Stockton: Arson and firearm arrests following estate raids

Staff and pupils at Tilery Primary School stayed inside as police carried out raids in the Portrack Estate

Three men have been arrested in raids as part of a wider operation to disrupt suspected drugs gangs.

Two police forces and National Crime Agency officers executed three warrants at four addresses in the Portrack Estate, Stockton, at 07:00 GMT.

Staff and pupils at Tilery Primary School stayed indoors during the raids.

Three men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson, firearm offences and being involved in the activities of an organised crime group.

The men remain in custody.

Cleveland Police, Durham Police, the National Crime Agency and officers from the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit took part in the operation.

Durham Police said while there was a "large police presence" it wanted to reassure people there was no wider threat to the community or Tilery Primary School.

In a statement, the school said classes had resumed at 11:00 GMT on Thursday.

"The safety of our children, staff and community is our highest priority and we followed our safeguarding procedures to ensure this," it said.

The raids form part of a wider operation which involved a further 11 arrests last week.

Officers carried out a series of co-ordinated warrants across Bishop Auckland, Shildon, Crook and Sherburn.

All those arrested were released on bail with strict conditions, police said.