A crack house next door to a police station in Worcester Park was closed last week after a surveillance operation revealed more than 40 drug users were visiting it each day.

A joint Sutton police operation between the Worcester Park and North Cheam Safer Neighbourhood Team and CID saw officers watch the house in Central Road before it was raided on Thursday, April 7.

Police said nine people were found in the premises, along with extensive evidence of drug use including needles, spoons and foil as well as small quantities of crack and heroin.

Sergeant Robert Pearce, of Worcester Park and North Cheam Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "The premises were observed on April 6 and 42 people visited the address in a seven-hour period.

"Many were seen to leave in a drug induced state and it makes people living in the area feel very, very uncomfortable."

The address became a centre for drug users after the police station on Central Road was vacated for refurbishment.

Now, following the surveillance and raid, a full closure notice has been issued by Sutton Magistrates preventing anyone from entering the address for three months.

Sergeant Pearce hailed the operation, which used the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003 to secure the closure notice as an overwhelming success.

"There were streams of six, seven, eight people queuing up to get in," he said. "Now, the premises have been completely sealed and people around there have got their lives back.

"The crime it caused has all gone away in a week it's been very effective."

A man and a woman, both in their 30s, were arrested for minor offences following the raid.

The man has been charged with driving while disqualified and the woman with non-payment of fines.