More than 250 police officers launched a series of raids during a huge crackdown on drug dealing in eastbourne.

Armed units and dog handlers were among hit-squads brought in to disrupt the peddling of heroin and crack cocaine in Eastbourne.

Officers from across Sussex were split into teams of 20 and took part in co-ordinated raids as the force helicopter circled above.

From dawn yesterday, more than 60 warrants were executed, mainly in crime hot spots Devonshire and Meads.

Some residents fed up with drugs being dealt in their neighbourhoods applauded police as they stormed homes in Eastbourne's biggest drugs clampdown.

By last night, more than 50 arrests had been made as part of Operation Shipwreck, a county-wide effort designed to stifle the supply of Class A drugs.

Four people have been charged with possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply and police said more arrests were expected.

Central Eastbourne was swamped by police throughout the day, with ten police dogs, firearms officers and two public order units out in force.

Some motorists were stopped at checkpoints by road policing units.

Police chiefs said the operation targeted alleged drug dealers whose activities result in addicts carrying out burglaries, vehicle crime and assaults to fund their habit.

In May last year, a major operation was launched in the town against Class A drugs, leading to 19 dealers being jailed.

In the six months that followed, crime fell dramatically by 3.7 per cent.

However, drug-related crime has since been on the rise as new dealers move in.

Superintendent Ken Probert, in overall gold command of Operation Shipwreck, said: "If we allow the problem to become deep-rooted it becomes much more difficult to eradicate long-term.

"That's why we are here today. We are not going to give drug dealers time to settle in."

He stressed Eastbourne was a safe place to live and visit and that the operation aimed to reassure residents and tourists.

Up to six months of intelligence-gathering led up to the raids, which began in south London on Wednesday night, when several people were held on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs. It is believed many batches of drugs are smuggled into Eastbourne from the capital.

Simultaneous raids then took place in Eastbourne, with officers executing warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Leaflets were posted to properties in targeted neighbourhoods, explaining the purpose of the operation. The leaflets said extra officers would be patrolling the area and con-tained phone numbers for people to report criminals.

Chief Inspector Martin Stevens, Eastbourne district commander, said: "The war against the scourge of drugs will continue and we will be on the winning side."

Neil Fuller, chairman of the Eastbourne Crime Reduction Partnership, which put £15,000 towards operation costs, said: "We've listened to people who have said the drugs issue is a source of considerable concern.

"The action taken will go a long way to reassure the public we are determined to target those who are suspected to be involved in such activity."