THE Warrington Guardian joined police for a drugs raid on Friday as they smashed their way into a suspect's home in Birchwood.

After a 6am briefing at Risley Police station, officers drove to the target at just after 6.30am.

On the way, the new Inspector for the area, Derek Lockie, said he was keen to act on tip-offs and carry out raids because they lead to more intelligence - and more arrests.

We parked 100 yards away and quietly walked the last stretch to the home in Langwell Close before silently taking up positions outside the door.

Then the 6ft 5ins tall Method of Entry (Moe) officer used four blows to force the wooden door open - incredibly loud in the confined space.

Officers piled in shouting "police" - lucky for them, because the confused and sleepy 19-year-old suspect, clad only in a T-shirt and shorts, had picked up a carlock to defend his home. The police's intelligence appeared to be good, as a number of suspicious substances were found.

Insp Lockie emerged from the property and said: "We recovered other articles possibly linked to the supply of drugs."

A drugs dog searched the suspect's expensive car, but nothing was recovered.

Despite the noise, no residents emerged from the expensive houses in the area.

Operation Stoat was planned by PC Dan Packham.

Det Sgt Paul Fitton, head of CID at Risley Police station, said as he waited for the search to be completed: "He had to research the intelligence, plan the briefing, go to court and convince the magistrates he has the grounds for a drugs warrant.

"There's a lot of work gone in. He has put the whole job together.

"It's a misconception that it's the people of high rank doing the work. They are managers. It's the constables and detectives who do the work."

At around 7.20am, the suspect was led away in handcuffs for questioning.

Police are hoping to trace the former owners of a TV seized during the raid.

It is a Vistron Plasma DSP 42-inch LGE42V7. If you have information, call 01244 612651.