Police have defended their actions in raiding houses in a crackdown on drug abuse and anti-social behaviour.

Two families have hit out at the operation which led to them being evicted from their homes on Tuesday.

But detectives who led the operation said the eviction orders not aimed at individuals but at properties which had been at the centre of drug and anti social behaviour allegations.

Mother-of-three Deborah Jones, 35, claims she has been forced to live in a tent off Hall Lane, Windhill, with her three children 11-year-old daughter Jade, and sons Carl, 15, and Luke, 16.

Their flat in Coach Road, Baildon, has been boarded up.

Also evicted was Bryan McHale, of Church Street, Shipley, who has been left homeless with his 20-year-old daughter Claire and sons Daniel, 18, and Ryan, 17.

They were among 17 people served with closure orders by magistrates in Bradford after police took action under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act.

The court has the power to order closure if premises are involved in the use of production or supply of class A controlled drugs and there was disorder or serious nuisance.

Miss Jones, 35, said there were no drugs in her home and her sons were not the subject of anti-social behaviour orders.

"We are now living in a tent and have done nothing wrong. I feel sick. I can't eat and I'm always crying. What are we going to do."

Neighbours of 42-year-old Mr McHale have drawn up a petition calling for him to be given back his home.

He admitted cannabis was found in a bedroom of which he had no knowledge.

Mr McHale, who is unemployed, carries out his own daily litter pick in the streets and on a nearby playing field and does minor repairs to property.

West Yorkshire Police Supt David Oldroyd, who led the crackdown codenamed Operation Constantine, said: "This was in response to complaints from local residents who were sick of living near to properties where anti-social behaviour was taking place.

"All the people who have been moved from their homes as a result of this week's operation have been offered emergency housing advice and assistance with any drug issues."

People from the housing trust were available at court and it was their choice as to what help they accepted, he said, adding: "At the end of the day the orders are against premises and not individual people."