CANNABIS plants, class A drugs and stolen property were discovered by West Mercia Police as specialist teams carried out a serious of raids across the Wychavon area during a one month period.

Homes and addresses in Droitwich, Evesham and the Vale were targeted as part of the crack down by West Mercia Police aimed at reducing the number of these types of crimes.

In total 12 warrants, all related to drugs, were executed between July and August.

Six searches took place at properties in Droitwich including two dawn raids on the Westlands estate in early August attended by Your Worcester News reporter James Connell.

He reported how elite police officers smashed their way into the homes of the suspects using a chainsaw and shouting "police" and "get on the ground".

The report of the raid, which attracted national media attention, saw specialist Task Force officers, kitted out in heavy duty gear, helmets and balaclavas, enter a home in Woodmans Rise in Droitwich, where a man was arrested from the address for possession with intent to supply what is thought to be class A drugs.

No drugs were found at the address in Farmers Court.

Other searches in Droitwich included a flat in Worcester Road where no drugs were found, an address in Ploughmans Walk at which cannabis was found leading to a man being interviewed by the police.

A second warrant executed in Ploughmans Walk was negative as was a search at an address in Farriers Corner.

Alongside this there was other drug activity from response officers and the Central Motorway Police Group officers and a male was arrested following a report that he was acting suspiciously in Celvestune Way, Droitwich. He was found to be carrying a lock knife and what is thought to be Class A drugs.

Inspector Janet Heritage, Wychavon Safer Neighbourhood Inspector, said: "This activity has been conducted following concerns raised about drug related crime. Communities do not want this going on in their area and have been supportive of the action that we have taken.

"We will continue to target those that cause us and members of the community concern and appeal to anyone with any information to contact us either on 101 or through Crimestoppers."

In Evesham one hotspot was Summerfield Gardens in Hampton, Evesham, the same cul-de-sac where shots were fired with an imitation fire arm in June this year.

During searches at two properties officers seized a bag of cannabis and one person was interviewed and has been summonsed to court.

Another warrant saw drugs, thought to be class A, uncovered and one man was interviewed in relation to this.

In South Littleton, near Evesham, stolen property from a dwelling burglary was found during a raid and over in Glenmoor, Eckington, near Pershore, on Thursday, July 10, nine plants were removed.

A man, suffering from a serious medical condition, has since been given a caution for growing for personal use for health reasons.

Two negative searches were also carried out in Rynal Place and St Phillips Drive, both in Evesham.

But in the latter property two occupants are being summonsed for abstracting electricity.

And in extra discoveries during the same period six cannabis plants were taken from a home in Leys Road in Harvington on Saturday, July 12. The plants were believed to have been grown by a woman for personal use.

CMPG officers stopped a male on the M5 junction 7 and found him to be in possession of what appeared to be a quantity of class A drugs. He is currently on police bail.

Officers also searched a male acting suspiciously in Broughton Hackett, Pershore, and found cannabis, leading to the man being issued with a street warning, and enquiries are ongoing surrounding cannabis plants found in an address in Pershore High Street.