Detectives arrested some of Bradford's "key drugs pushers" during a weekend crime blitz in the city.

Thirty-one people were arrested for offences including drug dealing and vehicle crime as part of the operation called Ring of Steel.

And almost 15,000 bootleg DVDs and video tapes with an estimated street value of £250,000 were seized during the multi-agency raids which involved up to 80 officers.

Officers swooped on seven properties in Allerton, Bradford Moor, Chellow Grange and Swain House where arrests were made for drug possession and drug trafficking offences.

The squad recovered a substantial quantity of Class B drugs, including cannabis bush and resin.

Inspector Adrian Lyles, of Bradford North police, who led the operation, today hailed it as a success.

"It has certainly disrupted the supply of Class B drugs in this division's area of Bradford by taking out some of the key drugs pushers," he said.

"The message to criminals out there is to watch your backs because we are hunting you down and you will be caught."

Insp Lyles said the team acted on a number of tip-offs from members of the public and their own investigations.

The counterfeit DVDs and video tapes were seized at three video shops in Lidget Green.

A man in his 30s has been questioned by officers in connection with the raids.

"These premises were dealing mainly in Asian language films and the businesses have been put out of operation while Trading Standards officers investigate," said Insp Lyles.

The Ring of Steel operation was carried out in partnership with West Yorkshire Trading Standards, the British Phonographic Institute, the Hackney Carriage Enforcement Office, Bradford Council's park rangers service, and the Department for Work and Pensions, which was on the lookout for benefit fraudsters.

Officers from the division's force spectrum unit and representatives from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency electronically assessed number plates on almost 15,000 passing vehicles for offences during the operation in Whetley Hill and Toller Lane, Five Lane Ends, Thorpe Edge and Ravenscliffe.

Four drivers were arrested for offences including driving stolen vehicles, driving without insurance and drugs possession after 115 vehicles were stopped.

Twenty-five drivers were stopped for failing to possess valid car tax and 45 fixed penalty notices were handed out to drivers for other motoring offences.

And Hackney Carriage Enforcement officers stopped 65 private hire vehicles, of which 12 vehicles were found to be unlicensed.

A number of offenders wanted by the police on warrant were found and arrested.

Insp Lyles said: "The aim of this operation as with all our operations in Bradford was to reduce the fear of crime and to ensure the public that we are attacking crime from all angles.

"We will continue to act on any information received about drug dealers in the division and crack down heavily on anyone found in possession of drugs in any form."