Cannabis and thousands of fake cigarettes were seized yesterday as 30 officers executed four warrants in the town for drug offences and arrested two people in relation to counterfeit goods.

Acting in response to the 200 people a month who give information to Brierfield police, 30 officers, PCSOs, dog handlers and support staff linked up with members of HM Revenue and Customs.

Cannabis plants worth £2,000 were seized and eight HM Revenue and Customs officers visited shops and other premises where they recovered £14,000-worth of cigarettes and tobacco, and counterfeit DVDs.

Sgt Mark Baines, who co-ordinated the day of action, said: "It's been a really successful day and members of the public have stopped in the street and thanked us."

The day of action also saw the police motorway patrol and DVLA vehicle licensing set up a mobile unit on the B&Q car park where 17 vehicles were checked and 16 taken off the road.