FOURTEEN people have been charged with selling cocaine on the streets of Weston-super-Mare as the police try to ‘tackle the supply of class A drugs’.

Police officers have been clamping down on drug dealers in the town and now 14 people face court for drug offences ranging back over two years.

Two men aged 23 and two men aged 27, all from Weston, appeared in Bristol Crown Court on October 22 and were charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine between October last year and January.

They are next due in front of the court to enter a plea on March 18, 2016.

Ten other people – four women and six men – appeared before North Somerset Courthouse on October 20 charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine in Weston between September 2013 and January this year. They will next appear at Bristol Crown Court on November 10.

The women are aged 55, 32, 31 and 23, two of the men are aged 27 and the others are 42, 32, 28 and 25. They are all from Weston.

Chief Inspector Tina Robinson said tackling drugs became a high priority when people living on the Bournville and Oldmixon estates raised concerns to officers.

She said: “We’ve listened to those concerns and these charges are just part of the work we’re continuing to do to tackle the supply of class A drugs in our town.

“We’re calling in specialist police teams such as the dog handlers to help us and we’ll continue to take action where we have evidence of criminality linked to drugs.

“I recognise the harm and antisocial behaviour caused by drug dealing can have an impact on residents and tackling this activity continues to be a priority.

“I would ask the community to keep on giving us information and to be patient if they don’t see immediate action. We must put evidence to magistrates in order to get the warrants we need to search properties for drugs.

“It can take a while to build up that evidence picture but community information really is the key.”

To report a crime, visit www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/contact-us or call 101.