SEVEN people arrested in dawn raids remain in custody tonight (Thursday, March 27).

The six men, aged 27 to 48, and a woman in her late 20s were arrested as police swooped on six houses across Sherburn Village, Thornley, South Hetton and West Rainton, County Durham, early on Wednesday.

A Durham Police spokeswoman said they were all still being held in custody.

The raids were targeted against organised criminal gangs and drug dealers and were part of the largest intelligence-led operation Durham Police has ever seen.

There were also raids in Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Market Drayton, Shropshire.

To report a crime, call 101.