A SIX-WEEK police operation to stamp out violence on Bishop Auckland housing estate has ended with the arrest of three suspected drug dealers.

Drugs, including heroin, crack cocaine, cannabis, Ecstasy and amphetamines were also recovered during raids on houses on the Woodhouse Close Estate during the school holidays.

Operation Pippin was launched by the town's police after a series of attacks on bus drivers and their vehicles in the months leading up to the six-week school holidays.

Inspector Helen Mcmillan, of Bishop Auckland police, said: "We needed to tackle a number of problems on the estate.

"Ford Way is unoccupied at the moment and there had been problems with youths causing an annoyance. There was also a problem with buses, with attacks on those travelling through the estate.''

Prior to the operation, bus company Arriva stopped its evening services through the estate because of the attacks.

During August, beat officers PC Warren Hawes and PC Shaun Goad travelled on the buses talking to drivers and passengers about the incidents, as well as try to identify the offenders.

Insp McMillan said: "We always anticipate that such incidents get worse during the six-week holiday. We wanted to establish a strong community presence and work with the youths, and it did tackle some of the issues. The buses have resumed normal services through the estate.

"Because there was a strong police presence up there, crime was reduced by more than 50 per cent, from 96 crimes to 41, rather than increased as expected during holidays. I accept that there are still problems on the estate but we have gone a long way to make inroads into it."