Three people have been arrested for drugs offences after police carried out a series of dawn raids across Shrewsbury today.

About 25 officers smashed their way into properties in Meole Brace, Castlefields and Ditherington.

Sergeant Keith Steele, who oversaw the raids, said at one property in Avondale Drive, in Castlefields, a man in his 40s was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

He said: “We recovered a bag of white tablets and drugs paraphernalia including scales and clear sealable bags.”

At a second property in Wayford Close, Meole Brace, a male was arrested and charged with possession with intent to supply.

Sergeant Steele said: “We found £600 in cash and 20-plus clear bags with cannabis in them which were deals made up for the day and paraphernalia.”

He said at another property in Stapleton Road, Meole Brace, no items were found but at a fourth property in Crewe Street, Ditherington, police arrested a man in his 20s for possession of a controlled substance.

Officers found some white powder, scales and a syringe containing an unknown substance.

West Mercia Police carried out the searches as part of Operation Protect, which aims to recover the proceeds of burglary.

Earlier this month five people were arrested by police carrying out drug warrants in Ditherington. Eighteen officers were involved in the early morning operation, with three women and two men being arrested after magistrates granted warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

A man and a woman in their 20s were arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled Class A drug. Another man, also in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of possessing and production of cannabis.

An 18-year-old woman was issued with a formal warning for possession of cannabis but was not arrested. Another woman was arrested on suspicion of possessing cannabis with intent to supply. A third woman was arrested and received a caution for possessing cannabis.