TEN people have appeared in court on drugs charges following a massive police swoop in Burnley.

The court appearances followed raids which were carried out at six addresses in the early hours of Thursday morning when nine people were arrested. A further five were arrested later in the day.

The operation involving more than 80 officers was part of Lancashire Police's Operation Nimrod and followed an intelligence gathering phase that lasted several months.

The operation was focused on the Duke Bar area of the town.

Eight of those arrested appeared before Burnley magistrates yesterday on charges relating to the supply of class A drugs including heroin and crack cocaine.

Those before the court were: Sally Balderstone, 30, of Holbeck Street, Burnley, remanded on unconditional bail until August 8; Deborah Tomlin, 38, of Cleaver Street, Burnley, remanded in custody until August 8; Michael Ganley, 35, of Colne Road, Burnley, remanded on conditional bail until August 21; Nathan Forrest, 40, of Ford Street, Burnley, remanded on conditional bail until August 8; Beverley Hutchinson, 37, of Hallwell Street, Burnley, remanded on unconditional bail until August 8; Paul Ludlum, 30, of Cleaver Street, Burnley, remanded in custody until July 4; Martin Norwood, 40, of Ford Street, Burnley, remanded in custody until July 4.

Craig Brown, 30, of Robinson Street, Burnley, was remanded in custody for sentence at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to four counts of supplying class A drugs.

Two others, Thomas Kelly and Tracey Evans were remanded on conditional bail until July 21.