Four people were arrested and crack cocaine, heroin and almost £1,000 were seized after police in riot gear with sniffer dogs swooped on three flats.

Officers recovered drug paraphernalia in a series of raids in Brighton and Hove.

These included home-made crack pipes, dirty spoons and tin foil used to turn heroin into liquid form for smoking or injecting, powders for mixing drugs and equipment for smoking cannabis.

The raids came after increasing complaints from neighbours at all the addresses coupled with an increase in crime in each area.

About 25 officers were involved in Operation Turn, including several on their first drug search.

Sniffer dogs were brought in after each premise was searched to uncover anything that was missed.

Officers used plastic gloves because of the dangers of dirty needles which could carry HIV and hepatitis.

They entered using an enforcer, a lightweight battering ram.

Those that went in wore riot helmets and carried shields with stab vests and protective clothing.

Police raided a flat in Vernon Terrace, near Dyke Road, and found substances which they suspect were 15 wraps of crack cocaine and heroin.

Two men were arrested and taken for questioning for suspected possession with intent to supply.

At another empty address on Hereford Street, Kemp Town, police recovered suspected drug paraphernalia.

On Coronation Mews one man was arrested after a small amount of suspected heroin was found and a woman was arrested for theft after a stolen passport was found in her bag.

Inspector Andy Parr was in charge of the operation.

He said: "Today has been a success. We achieved something at every house we went to and the main thing is that the neighbours are chuffed to bits because they have had to live with it.

"We have shut down a crack house and done the neighbourhood a massive favour.

"We were acting partly on reports from neighbours and it goes to show that they have some control over what happens.

"For the probationers it was the first time they have done a drugs search which is part of a steep learning curve.

"You learn something from every operation such as the speed they got into the flats, particularly the last one, the teamwork involved and the level of enthusiasm they have shown to serve their town."