THE stiff sentences handed out to a gang of drug dealers sends out a strong message to others pursuing similar means of making fast money.

Ridding Bolton's streets of Class A drugs and their suppliers is a virtually impossible task and a continuous use of police resources.

Catching and jailing gangs such as the one sentenced to a total of more than 15 years yesterday goes some way to cutting the supply line that affects many people other than dealers and addicts.

Car crime, burglaries and muggings carried out by desperate addicts all result in misery for law-abiding members of the general public - the selling of drugs is not just a simple transaction between dealer and buyer.

What many users fail to realise is that they are not simply exercising their right to abuse their own bodies, but are subsidising a world involving guns, gangs and people forced into prostitution to fund their habit.

As the judge in the case at Bolton Crown Court said, an ever increasing circle of evil follows the use and supply of heroin and crack cocaine, which causes misery and degradation to everyone it touches.

Dealing is becoming increasingly sophisticated as are the ploys police have to used to catch those involved, costing time and money.

The imprisonment of the "Choppa" gang will no doubt cut supplies on Bolton's streets but, unfortunately, someone else will be willing to step into their shoes and move into the lucrative world of drug dealing.

If anyone has any information about drug dealers they should immediately contact the police.

The misery they will stop by doing so is immeasurable.