Residents join anti-drugs fight

Around 100 volunteers took to the streets to fight the drug menace

Residents in a rundown part of Bristol have taken to the streets in a major drugs clean-up operation.

Around 100 volunteers have been out in the St Paul's area following the success of a similar day last year.

Three months ago 400 police officers, some armed, raided homes across the area in a huge operation to close down the drugs business.

They recovered bags of illegal substances including more than 300 rocks of crack cocaine and 37 people were arrested.

The community was highly supportive of the raids and the city council sent in teams to smarten up the area.

Local community groups organised the day's clean-up.

They hoped to collect discarded syringes, abandoned furniture and to clear disused basements.

Ahmed Mohammed, community links officer for the area, said: "This all helps give a good impression of St Paul's.

"But the community still needs a lot of other projects including education and training.

"Still, we feel we're doing something for the community."

On Tuesday a total of 13 drug dealers who had been operating in the area, were jailed for a combined total of more than 65 years.