A major campaign has been launched in the north west of England and north Wales to tackle those involved in supplying cocaine and cultivating cannabis farms.

The crackdown is being carried out by independent charity Crimestoppers which allowed people to report crimes anonymously.

They say these tip offs can disrupt gang activity and keep people safe.

They body wants to know a series of questions.

These include who runs a drug trade in a given area, which properties are being used grow cannabis, where is being used to deal drugs, who is in serious crime gangs, which cash only businesses may be money laundering, how do people are exploited being recruited and do people have concerns that others may be victims of modern slavery.

Last year a newsagent was jailed in Bolton for using his premises to deal drugs.

Dana Ahmed, 28, of Victoria Grove, Bolton, used now the defunct Bradshawgate News, to deal cocaine and cannabis.

Police in the town have also asked for information as they vowed to "cut the head off the snake" of drug dealers.

Gary Murray, regional manager at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “Sadly, over the last 12 months we have seen many lives lost and families devastated because of the violence associated with drug crime.

"Only by individuals taking the brave step of reporting anonymously what is going on in their areas to our charity will we see a cut in the pain and suffering that our communities face.

“If you know who is involved in drug crime or orchestrating a drug gang, please contact our charity. Only you will know you contacted us.

“Every year across the north west we receive and passes on over 30,000 pieces of `actionable’ information.

"Across north Wales, we pass on around 2,400 pieces of high-quality information.

"This leads to a significant number of arrests, millions of pounds of drugs seized, and weapons being taken off our streets.

"We would like to thank those who have previous contacted our charity.

“Remember, we guarantee you’ll stay 100% anonymous and I encourage anyone with information to contact us. We will never know who they are because of anonymity, but they have made the north west and north Wales safer for everyone and made a real difference.”

Read more: Newsagent who dealt drugs jailed

Read more: Police want to cut the head off the snake of drug dealers

To speak up 100 per cent anonymously, visit the charity’s website Crimestoppers-uk.org and fill in our simple and secure anonymous online form or call our 24/7 UK Contact Centre on freephone 0800 555 111.

Computer IP addresses are never traced, and no-one will ever know you contacted us. For telephone calls, we have no caller line display, no 1471 facility and we have never traced a call.