A YOUNG mother who stood up to alleged drug dealers has had charges of assault against her dropped.

Leanne Robertson, 22, had been due make a second appearance before Teesside magistrates yesterday. But the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided to discontinue the case.

A spokeswoman for the CPS said: "In this particular case, a further statement was received from the complainant after the defendant had been charged with the offence. The reviewing lawyer considered this and a decision was made to discontinue proceedings."

Miss Robertson of Hawthorn Avenue, Thornaby, near Stockton, was arrested following a scuffle over alleged drug dealing on September 12.

At the time she claimed dealers were peddling drugs in full view of residents, but said nothing was being done about the problem.

The final straw, she said, was when three-year-old daughter, Megan, witnessed the dealing outside her own home and asked what was going on.

Miss Robertson vowed to fight the assault charge "all the way" and was backed by more than 20 neighbours.

They said they were sick and tired of the drug dealing and were frightened to let their children play in the street.

Residents claimed police had failed to stop the dealers, but were quick to arrest Miss Robertson when she tried to tackle the problem.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: "We would always urge residents to contact police over any suspected drug dealing activities in their area.

"We rely on information from the public, and the more intelligence we receive the better.