POLICE are hoping yesterday's raids will give the people of Foxglove Gardens their street back.

Eleven people were arrested as around 40 police officers, many wearing body armour, raided two properties in the west Reading street looking for drugs and illegal immigrants.

It was the biggest operation so far in a crackdown on drugs, prostitution and other crime that has steadily grown in the past 18 months and made Foxglove Gardens notorious across Reading.

It led to two public meetings where the people of the tiny cul-de-sac and surrounding streets demanded action from police and their landlord, Sanctuary Housing Association.

Last month the crackdown by police and Sanctuary began with three women evicted from numbers three, six and 12, before four Yardies were arrested and deported back to Jamaica in the past three weeks.

Yesterday police, including an armed response squad and local beat bobbies, used ramming gear to force open the doors to numbers 19 and 25 in a lunchtime raid.

They found what is suspected to be cocaine and tablets that will be analysed as they arrested six men and five women on suspicion of a number of offences, including possession of drugs with intent to supply, possession, theft and handling.

Inspector Dave Parker, who is responsible for policing the area, yesterday praised local people for helping police in their crackdown. Inspector Parker said: "Since our last meeting more information has been provided to us which we have been able to act upon.

"You could just see the smiles on local residents' faces when we executed the warrants.

"I sincerely hope this will help to give the residents of Foxglove Gardens back their community, but if problems continue, I can assure them that we will continue to robustly tackle the drug dealers, wherever they may be."

He added: "There had been on-going drug dealing for the past 18 months and it culminated in three addresses being repossessed by the housing association.

"The strength of opinion in the area was very strong that drug dealing was still going on.

"A lot of intelligence was passed to us and I was thrilled that I was able to obtain two search warrants to search these two premises that I believe have been causing the most disruption to the locals that has impacted on their quality of life."

Police poured into the street at about 1.30pm and they found 12 people in one house and four in the other.

One man tried to escape through the back of one house but was quickly caught.

Police also searched two cars in the street and found what was suspected to be 14 stolen coats.

Four immigration officials were also in Foxglove Gardens, checking the status of some of the men.

Two staff from Sanctuary Housing, which owns the majority of the street, were also present. Some neighbours watched, while a group of teenagers shouted "gangsta" and "junkies" as the police carried out their operation.

Four men and two women were bailed until next month while investigations into suspected drugs and theft offences continue. A 40-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs for supply received a caution, while a 26-year-old woman and a 16-year-old were released without charge.

One man was still in custody this morning as immigration officials continue their investigation.