DAWN raids have been carried out on nine homes in Reading and Earley as part of a regional crackdown on and drug dealing.

Police executed warrants on four properties in Reading and five in Earley in the early hours of this morning but have not confirmed how many arrests have been made.

Raids were carried out simultaneously at 6am in Basingstoke Road, Northumberland Avenue, Kingsbridge Road and London Road as well as Erleigh Court Gardens, Palmerstone Road, Chiltern Crescent and two homes in Rosedale Crescent. A homes in Challacombe, Furzton, near Milton Keynes, and Datchet Road, Datchet, were also targeted.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Bruce Riddell thanked neighbours for their cooperation and patience with the raids and said: “I realise that carrying out such warrants can be distressing for communities.

“Today’s warrants allowed us to arrest a number of people who we suspect to be supplying drugs and obtaining money illegally.

“Extra patrols will be conducted in the areas where the warrants have been executed and I encourage residents to speak to officers if they have any concerns.”