Dawn raids on troubled estate

The raids took place throughout the morning

Police have raided a number of homes in a notorious estate in a Nottinghamshire town.

Crack teams smashed down doors to make a number of arrests on the Coxmoor Estate in Kirby-in-Ashfield.

Known criminals and people suspected of a number of different offences were targetted during Operation Ashfield.

It was one of the first times Nottinghamshire Police has conducted raids alongside other agencies including Customs and Excise and the Benefits Agency.

Many local people welcomed the raids which police said were aimed at a small minority of people living on the estate.

Inspector David Bannister, from Nottinghamsire Police, said: "The problem is with a small number of individuals who live on the estate.

"It is these individuals rather than the estate that we are targetting."

Other agencies also benefitted from working alongside the police.

Alan Stanley, fines enforcement officer, said: "By working with the police we have managed to gain access to people who we have had difficulties with in the past and that has enabled me to collect a number of fines that were outstanding."