Police raided a flat today in the continued battle against crack and heroin dealing in Brighton and Hove.

Officers smashed their way into the council flat in Hangleton, Hove, after residents complained it was being used for drug dealing.

A man tried to stop police getting through an inner door by jamming a vacuum cleaner against it but the two men in the flat were arrested.

A small amount of a substance was seized and the flat was searched by sniffer dog Duke.

A knife and four mobile phones were taken away.

Both men told officers they were from Jamaica and one had only been in the country for four months.

Sergeant Richard Delacours, who led the raid, said: "We were given information that the flat was being used as a safe house to store Class A drugs. People were seen visiting the flat at all hours of the day and night and this led us to believe that offences may have been committed.

"After entering the premises we served a warrant on the occupants for a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

"Our investigations are continuing but this is a clear message to anyone suspected of being involved with Class A drugs.

"We only have to be lucky once. They have to be lucky all the time.

"The other purpose of today's operation was to reassure local residents we do listen to their concerns and will act on them."

The raid follows a clear warning from Judge David Rennie that crack and heroin dealers can expect tough sentences.

He jailed two Brighton dealers for ten years each a week ago.