Three teenagers were today being questioned about suspected drugs dealing after a series of raids in a York suburb.

Police in Strensall seized hundreds of pounds worth of cannabis in the latest part of their hard-hitting campaign to solve youth troubles in Haxby and Wigginton.

Officers following a tip-off from a member of the public searched a car to find a substantial haul of cannabis - which they believe is the largest amount ever seized in the Haxby area.

They also found more drugs in a raid on a house at nearby New Earswick.

Three 17-year-old youths have been arrested by police in connection with alleged cannabis supply. A fourth youth was also arrested in connection with alleged possession of cannabis.

The raids is a culmination of a two-month investigation sparked when police broke up a drunken binge involving dozens of teenagers on Haxby's Ethel Ward playing field.

Bottles of wine and vodka, dozens of cans of lager and a small quantity of cannabis were seized as school bags and satchels were searched in the operation, reported in the Evening Press in May.

Since then, officers have been inundated with information which they claim has led them to the doors of the youths behind many of the troubles.

Sgt Tim Bright, of Strensall Police Station, praised the part played by the Evening Press in securing the arrests.

He said: "The Press reports into the situation at Haxby have raised people's awareness about the drug problems in the area and a number of parents have come forward solely because they have read stories in the newspaper."

The youths arrested in the raids, which took place over the weekend, will be assessed by a Youth Panel which will decide whether charges should be pressed.

Sgt Bright said: "We are getting some very good information from members of the public which is helping us make serious in-roads into the problems.

"In the past 12 months nuisance and disorder caused by young people has been significantly reduced. We have had 10 incidents in the past month compared with 90 in previous months.

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