'Notorious' Birmingham drugs den closed down

A "notorious Birmingham drugs den" has been closed down by a court after a series of police raids.

Drug dealers and users visited the flat in Holly Road, Handsworth, for months and intimidated neighbours with their antisocial behaviour, police said.

When officers, reacting to reports from local people, raided the property in July and September they found evidence of widescale drugs use.

The city's magistrates granted police a three-month closure order on Tuesday.

The flat has been sealed off and anyone who trespasses will be be arrested, West Midlands Police said.

Sgt Neil Mason said: "Before today's closure, residents endured months of drug dealers and drug users visiting the flat who would be noisy, litter the area and generally intimidate local law abiding residents with their anti-social ways.

"Fortunately, the community were not prepared to put up with this illegal behaviour and shared their concerns with us."