There was a squeal of tyres and the sound of heavy boots on asphalt.

"Get out. Get out of the car now," screamed one police officer at the driver of a white Vauxhall Cavalier.

Within seconds the small car park was awash with blue uniforms as officers zipped between the parked vehicles, rounding up everyone in sight.

For the 20 or so people in and around the Queens Hotel in Manningham, there was no time to run even if they wanted to.

While one police team secured the building, the other searched those outside, spreading their arms on car bonnets and turning out their pockets.

Moments later, a drugs sniffer dog was bounding excitedly across the seats of a large, white BMW.

In the adjoining green in Lumb Lane, some youngsters stopped their game of cricket and rushed across to investigate the excitement.

A group of teenagers peered through the railings where a plastic police cordon had been hastily tied.

"Is this a drugs raid, is it?" asked one.

"That's good. That's very good. That is what is needed around here."

A man ushered some six and seven-year-olds away from the railings and said to nobody in particular: "It is about time something was done. This crack and heroin is killing our children."

On the other side of the fence another man, wearing a yellow string vest and an Ali G-style hat, was led away in handcuffs from a sporty looking Astra.

As Jake, the Spaniel sniffer dog, pictured, neared the car his tail wagged with increasing excitement.

"Well done boy. That's worth a decent bone," called his handler.

From underneath the car, where Jack had been rummaging, he pulled a large plastic bag of cannabis.

Detective Sergeant Patrick O'Neil, from the newly formed district drugs team, said: "We have hit the Lumb Lane area several times over recent months."

The area has long been associated with drug dealing and, more specifically, with the threat of crack cocaine.

Police decided to raid the Queens Hotel fearing drug dealers were using it as a base for their operations.

Thier intelligence suggested that some dealers had taken their business to the area - the target of the latest raid.

"Basically, we will keep coming back to the area while drugs are being supplied from here."

Those searched and found to be 'clean' were thanked for their patience and sent on their way. Two couples of pensioners, who had been enjoying a lunchtime pint, called a taxi to carry on with the drink elsewhere.

One man, originally from Jamaica, waited while immigration officials checked he was not in the country illegally.

As they told him he was free to go he smiled: "You're welcome. I have no problem at all with the law."

At the end of the operation three people were arrested and heroin and cannabis had been seized.

Det Sgt O'Neil said: "It has been a successful afternoon's work. I hope that it helps reassure the people who have to put up with the dealers in their communities that we are determined to get them off the streets."

He said the police were already receiving good leads from the force's new 'Dob in a Dealer' campaign, which urges the public to call the confidential Crimestoppers hotline with information.

He said: "Any good information will always be acted upon, even if people don't see us do it there and then."

Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555111.