SEVEN men have been jailed for a total of more than 11 years after selling Ecstasy to undercover police officers.

During a six-month operation centred around several pubs in Crook, County Durham, the men were arrested by police.

All seven admitted being involved in the supply of class A drugs and were jailed at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday.

Police carried out the lengthy surveillance operation on several pubs, including Bar 56 and the King's Head, in Crook.

They arrested Arthur Savory, 23, Nigel Watson, 31, Ian Murphy, 23, Mark Humes, 31, Lee Westgarth, 20, Liam Wright, 19, and Michael Goodwill, 21, for their various roles in the drugs supply.

Judge Peter Bowers said: "I accept really this was not peddling for profit, it was simply you passing on to others who you thought were interested in the sort of supplies you had."

He sentenced Savory, of Hope Street, Crook, to three years in prison.

Judge Bowers said: "People in Crook who are involved in the drug culture have got to learn that anyone dealing will go to prison."

"The message goes to Crook that anyone found even peddling one tablet will go away."

Murphy, of Albert Street, Crook, was jailed for two years. Wright, of Burnhope Close, Crook, and Westgarth, of Bondale Way, Stanhope, were each sent to a young offenders' institution for 15 months.

Humes, of Hardy Terrace, Crook, Watson, of West End Villas, Crook, and Goodwill, of Palm Lea, Brandon, were all jailed for 15 months.