Abandoned houses reclaimed

SIX homes rented to drug dealers who were targeted by police raids have been recovered by council chiefs after being abandoned.

The council homes in West Lothian were raided as part of the police's Operation Focus. It led to more than 40 drug dealers being jailed for a total of 26 years.

Council leader Peter Johnston said drug dealers would be evicted and banned from ever having a council house again.

A council spokesman said: "We have not evicted any tenants convicted of drugs offences as yet. However, a number of cases are with our legal services team."