SUSPECTED heroin dealers were targeted by police who swooped on an estate during Monday morning.

Two men and two women were taken in for questioning when officers from St Helens executed a search warrant at Malvern Road, in Parr on the Bank Holiday.

Quantities of heroin and cocaine were seized along with one and a half ounces of cannabis bush, and seven ounces of amphetamine.

In a statement, police said a 47-year-old woman and two men aged 25, all from Parr, had been arrested in connection with possessing heroin with intent to supply. A 21-year-old woman from Sutton Manor was arrested over the same offence. All have been bailed while police make further enquiries.

In a statement St Helens police Chief Superintendent Peter Brinkley said this operation was not a "one-off initiative": "It is a long-term commitment to taking drugs off the streets of St Helens.

"Merseyside Police and our partners in St Helens Drug and Alcohol Action Team aim to reduce the harm illegal drugs can cause and help give our communities the confidence to report drug-related crime to us. We will continue to target offenders and use the information we receive from the public to take action."

"If anyone has information about drug activity where they live, I would urge them to call us on the dedicated Panther hotline, 0800 093 5170 or through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 so that we can make a real difference for our communities in St Helens."