BURY police have smashed a major drugs ring in a series of dawn raids.

Nineteen people, including six women, were arrested as more than 200 officers swooped on 18 homes.

The raids, codenamed Operation Saluki, were the culmination of a year of undercover work and intelligence gathering by a dedicated team of officers acting on information given to them by local residents.

Homes in the Walmersley, Chesham, Fern Grove and Elton areas were targeted, as well as a house in Prestwich, one in Whitefield, and two outside the borough.

Occupants, aged between 20 and 45, were arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs including heroin and crack cocaine. One woman was arrested for a public order offence.

Officers from the Bury division were supported by Greater Manchester Police's Tactical Aid Unit, the dog section and financial investigation unit.

Armed police were put on standby as a precaution. No weapons were recovered.

Chief Superintendent David Anthony, Bury's divisional commander, said the raids were aimed at taking hardcore drug dealers off the streets of Bury.

He described the operation as a "huge success".

He said: "The resources used during Operation Saluki serves to highlight how serious we take the issue of drugs and how determined we are to put an end to this type of criminal activity.

"The repercussions of drug use are huge, ranging from people feeling threatened walking along their own streets to an increase in burglary and robbery by addicts funding their habit.

"There is no place for drugs on the streets of the borough."

The co-ordinated 6.30am raids were carried out on homes in Walmersley Road, Kingfisher Drive, Ivy Road, Benson Street and Royal Avenue, all in Bury; Woodward Road, Prestwich; Nuttall Avenue, Whitefield; Rochdale Road East, Heywood; and St John's Court, Knutsford, Cheshire.

Mr Anthony said: "Operation Saluki centres around the Bury community and the vital information it provides.

"We have proven to the people of the borough that we will react to information they give us to take drugs and their dealers off the streets.

"The activity seen yesterday is set to continue as we move forward in our drive to crack down on drug crime."

Those arrested were last night being interviewed at police stations in Bury and Swinton.

A number of them were expected to appear before Bury Magistrates Court later today.