POLICE swooped to close down two drug dens - one of which was also used as a brothel - after they were granted a court warrant.

The addresses in Thornaby and Stockton were yesterday sealed and two men evicted under the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003.

The raids came after a judge gave police permission to close the premises earlier in the day.

Officers from Stockton Drug Unit arrived at the first-floor flat in Queens Avenue, Thornaby, at noon and evicted 48-year-old Paul Thompson.

As the pony-tailed Mr Thompson placed items - including clothing - into black plastic dustbin liners, metal shutters were fitted over the windows and doors.

"We came to serve the closure order which we were given from the judge at Teesside," said Inspector Ian Garratt of Stockton Drug Unit.

"We built up evidence over the past three months. We had residents' statements, statements from local councillors and from Tristar Homes, who own the property.

"We can shift him because he and his activities were affecting the quality of life of residents. In this case, it was prostitution."

He added that there was also evidence of drugs at the flat.

Mr Thompson, who used to serve in the Army, must now find somewhere else to live, with the flat boarded up until the end of June.

"This is now closed up for three months," said Insp Garratt.

"They close it for that length of time so that people who might usually go, know that it's closed and that it's not worth going," he said.

"People who live around here don't want drug addicts and prostitutes coming in and out at all hours of the day.

"There's a lot of elderly people who live here as well."

And he warned: "We will be looking at others in the area."

The drug den at Elm House apartments, in Stockton, was also closed for three months and a man evicted. Neither man was arrested.

"This is an effective technique in the battle to target those supplying drugs in the area," said Detective Sergeant Jim Walton, of Stockton Drugs Unit.

"These closures should act as a warning to those persistently peddling drugs that we will continue to be relentless on the crackdown on drugs."