A GANG of drug dealers who flooded a North-East town with heroin were jailed last night for a total of almost 34 years.

The six-strong team from Teesside were caught after three undercover police officers opened a shop, called Bottom Dollar Discounts, in Redcar, east Cleveland, in an attempt to trace those stealing to fund their drug habits, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The officers found out the identities of those dealing in heroin, including the ringleader, Christopher Rogers.

Speaking after yesterday's case, Detective Inspector Derek Carter, of Cleveland Police, who headed the operation, said: "Drug dealers should look at the sentences handed out and the methods the police can use to catch criminals."

The officers were led to the dealers after they were offered heroin by gang member Paul Hunt, 25.

They went on to make several purchases of the drug in pub car parks and on a Redcar trading estate, during the operation in March 2002. They discovered Hunt had access to a firearm.

Hunt, 25, of Greystoke Road, Redcar, was jailed for four years for conspiracy to supply drugs and three years for possession of a firearm, to run consecutively.

Gareth Clydesdale, 24, of Hardwick Road, Stockton, was jailed for six years for conspiracy and nine months for breach of sentence to run consecutively.

Rogers, 25, of Inskipp Walk, Stockon, was given seven years for conspiracy, Stephen Sandom, 26 of Kettan Road, Stockton received five years, Martin Pitt, 22, of Kettan Road, Stockton was jailed for three years and nine months and Mark Bunce, 23, of Piperknowle Road, Hardwick, received four years, all for conspiracy to supply drugs.

Sarah Bainbridge, of Low Fold, Redcar who admitted supplying heroin and being concerned in supplying heroin was given two two-year suspended sentences.