TWO men have been remanded in custody in connection with the biggest find of crack cocaine in Hartlepool, Teesside.

A 42-year-old man, from Hartlepool, and a 40-year-old from Gateshead, were arrested with a 37-year-old woman in a police raid on a house in Jesmond Gardens.

Officers enlisted the help of a sniffer dog to uncover about 200 tablets worth £1,000 - the largest quantity of the highly addictive substance to be seized in the town.

The Hartlepool woman who was arrested in the raid, which was prompted by police intelligence, was granted conditional bail by Hartlepool magistrates on Tuesday.

Detective Inspector Bob Bussey, of Hartlepool police, said that while crack cocaine was not the town's most serious drug problem, Monday's haul was a significant step forward.

"We don't have a serious problem with crack cocaine, but certainly it's available to some people," he said.

"It's worrying that it is available at all as it is highly addictive."

Det Insp Bussey said that, while it was satisfying to make arrests, it is impossible to eradicate the problem.

"For every drugs dealer that is sent away, there's always someone waiting to take their place," he said.