By Safira Ali

Last updated 09:38, Saturday, 05 July 2008

Police seized 56 cannabis plants worth more than £7,000 in west Cumbria this week.

They arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of producing a controlled drug, namely cannabis, with the intent to supply.

Ten officers raided a house in Great Clifton as part of Ditch the Dealer – an operation which encourages the public to give police information about the supply of drugs.

Community Sergeant Mark Wear said: “This was a significant seizure of cannabis. It is one of the biggest we have had for the area. We would encourage people to come forward with information.”

PC Carolyn Orr added: “We are really pleased with the operation. It went as planned. The intelligence was spot on.”

The operation has seen four other search warrants carried out since last week.

A woman was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of controlled drugs after police seized class A and C drugs at a flat on Glenn Road, Moorclose, on Thursday afternoon.

Police believe they have recovered a quantity of cannabis, amphetamine and possibly heroin.

Three other search warrants were carried out last week. Workington police arrested seven people from properties on Grasmere Avenue, Topaz Avenue and Beverley Close after finding evidence of heroin, amphetamine and cannabis.

One was charged with possession of a controlled drug. The other six have been bailed to return to Workington police station at a later date.

Yesterday police officers and police community safety officers were visiting residents in Moorclose, to gather more intelligence and provide information about what they have been doing over the last few days.

They were working with Derwent and Solway Housing Association and the fire service to make the area a safer place to live.

PC Orr said: “We are trying to give reassurance to the community as part of the Streetsafe campaign. It is an opportunity for them to ask us questions.”