THREE people were arrested today after plain clothes police swooped on a house in the campaign to arrest a "drug dealer a day."

A mother and son, aged 54 and 35, were arrested after officers smashed open the front door of a semi-detached house in Hillside Avenue, Farnworth. A 27-year-old woman was also arrested inside the house. All three were held on suspicion of drugs offences, including conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and were due to be questioned by police today.

A search of the house was continuing this morning and it was not yet known whether drugs were recovered.

Today's arrests were part of Operation Chipata, an intelligence-led campaign to target Class A drug dealers plying their trade across Bolton.

Members of the public have also swamped police with names and addresses of drug dealers since the campaign began last week. Houses in Halliwell, Tonge Moor and Breightmet have been raided.

Eleven people were arrested in the first five days of the operation last week. Six have been charged with drugs offences and have appeared in court.

Police say six more people have been arrested since the weekend.

Two men and a juvenile were arrested following a raid on a house in Breightmet on Sunday. They now face drug charges.

Three men from the Castle Street and Hilden Street areas of Bolton were arrested yesterday morning and were still being interviewed today on suspicion of supplying class A drugs.

Officers are continuing to appeal for anyone with any information about the sale and distribution of Class A drugs to contact them.

A police spokesman said: "All calls from public will be investigated and followed up." Quantities of drugs have been recovered over the course of the operation - which is set to continue throughout the week.

Contact police on 0161 856 5709 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

More arrests in 'dealer a day' crackdown