RESIDENTS have welcomed a wave of police raids to put Southend drugs pushers out of action.

Around 300 officers took part in an operation yesterday which resulted in the arrest of 44 people alleged to have been selling cocaine, heroin and other class A drugs. It follows demands for action from people living around the Sutton Road area, alarmed at an obvious increase in drugs dealing.

Southend's new divisional commander, Chief Supt Dave Folkard, said: "We will take whatever action is necessary to bring those that bring misery to many people to justice."