FOUR from Bolton and Bury have been detained as part of a multi-million pound drugs probe in East Lancashire.

Homes were raided in Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria and London and drugs and a stash of weapons were recovered.

Twenty-three have been charged with drugs conspiracy related offences and appeared before Blackburn magistrates.

These include Anthony Richardson, 38, of Mackenzie Street, Bolton, who has been charged with conspiring to supply amphetamine.

And Richard Panter, 35, of Longsight Road, Ramsbottom, ihas been accused of conspiring to supply cannabis. Lee Booth, 35, of Holcombe Road, Greenmount, is charged with producing cannabis and Ernest Williams, 55, of Meadow Walk, Farnworth, has been accused possession with intent to supply drugs and possessing criminal property.

Nineteen others, mainly from Blackburn and Darwen, but with others from Swinton, Carlisle and Barrow, will also be in the dock with the quartet.

Police say a mill in Hollins Grove, Darwen, suspected of being used as a packaging base for drugs, saw the discovery of 10 kilos of amphetamine and a large amount of cutting agent.

Illegally-imported cigarettes, mobile phones, hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash and designer watches have also been impounded during the inquiry.