POLICE have arrested eight people and seized a shotgun in a series of drugs raids.

Officers carried out the operations in Brighton Hill, Kings Furlong, Rooksdown and Winklebury, Basingstoke, and stopped a number of cars believed to be involved in drug dealing.

The raids on Tuesday were part of Operation Fortress, which is Hampshire Constabulary's campaign to reduce the harm of drug-related violence.

Sergeant Carl Holmes said: “The message is clear – we will work tirelessly to identify and dismantle drugs networks.

“Class A drugs can do tremendous harm to the people whose lives are blighted by addiction. We will not tolerate drug-dealing in Basingstoke and will do all we can to disrupt it.”