HEROIN, crack cocaine and cannabis with a street value of tens of thousands of pounds is set to go up flames.

The drugs, seized by officers in recent police raids on Teesside users, are due for incineration.

Shipments are sent from Cleveland Police Headquarters on Ladgate Lane, in Middlesbrough, to be destroyed every six to eight weeks after court cases have been completed.

Detective Constable Bev Passman, the force drugs controller, said: "So many drugs of all kinds are intercepted and seized in the area through successful police operations that we destroy substantial amounts along with drug paraphernalia such as needles and scales each year.

"They have been kept in safe storage until the legal process has been completed then we can destroy them.

"Those in store can have a street value of up to £1m and our regular shipments to an incinerator simply make more room available for the continued round of seizures."

In April, one batch worth more than £500,000 was destroyed.