POLICE today hailed the latest raid on a suspected drug dealer a huge success, despite the fact they said no class A drugs were found on the property.

Officers used a battering ram to open the door of a home in Padiham in an operation which formed part of Lancashire Constabulary's Safer Streets initiative last night.

Under the scheme, police have pledged to carry out "a raid a day" on suspected drug dealers across East Lancashire.

The raid, involving nine police officers and a sniffer dog, resulted in the arrest of a man and seizure of drugs paraphernalia including a box full of hypodermic needles, a 100 metre roll of silver foil and white residue on a table cloth which was removed for forensic testing.

The raid, carried out by the Pennine division support unit and local geographic officers, was executed as a result of information received from local residents via the confidential Crimestoppers hotline.

PS Brian Whewell of Padiham police said: "There was panic on behalf of the occupiers. They were uneasy and that is why we are here to make the lives of suspected drug dealers uncomfortable.

"We have executed a warrant and made an arrest for a dru -related offence and we have made seizures of drug-related paraphernalia.

"The police in Pennine are part of an on-going offensive against drug use and dealing which will not be tolerated under any circumstances."

"I am quite happy that the intelligence we have received was good information as the paraphernalia seized from the flat indicates that offences have been committed here."

The 'Safer Streets in Lancashire' initiative is Lancashire Constabulary's response to the Government's street crime initiative.

The campaign aims to bring criminal justice and public sector organisations together to bring about a long-term solution to the root causes and problems of street and drug-related crime.

A man arrested was taken to Padiham police station for questioning.