Police in Cumbria made seven arrests and a number of seizures of class A drugs during a week-long UK-wide crackdown on county lines drugs crime.

Three of those arrests were in north Cumbria, with two each in the south and west of the county.

Those arrested are under investigation for links to a number of different county lines from different parts of the country.

The co-ordinated operation led to record numbers of more than 700 arrests, 681 people safeguarded, and almost half a million pounds worth of drugs seized.

Detective Chief Inspector David Cooper, of Cumbria Police, said: “Tackling county lines drugs crime is a year-round priority for Cumbria Constabulary and officers will continue to target all involved.

“We are determined to disrupt drug supply into Cumbria and protect vulnerable people from the exploitation and violence brought by county lines dealing.”

This is the fourth week of intensification since the National County Lines Coordination Centre (NCLCC) was launched in 2018, which have so far prevented more than 3,000 vulnerable people, including children, from being exploited by drug gangs, across the four weeks.

In the latest crackdown:

652 men and 91 women were arrested; 389 vulnerable adults and 292 children were engaged for safeguarding purposes; 655 cuckooed addresses were visited; 49 ‘deal lines’ were seized; cash totalling £183,976 was seized and 169 weapons were seized including: 12 firearms, swords, machetes, an axe, knives, samurai swords, and a crossbow.

Significant amounts of drugs were recovered, totalling £426,040.

Nikki Holland, National Crime Agency County Lines lead and Director of Investigations, said: “Tackling the County Lines networks exploiting young people, and bringing potentially deadly drugs and violence to communities, is a top law enforcement priority.

"These latest results show that, thanks to the co-ordinated effort with our partners we are dismantling these criminal networks piece by piece."