TWO men who ran a busy and successful "drugs shop" from a house in Rishton have each been jailed for two years.

Sean Clough, 23, was the prime mover behind the venture from his house on Spring Street, while Christopher Pedigrew, 24, who lived in the same street was the "bag man".

Pedigrew became a father the day after his arrest and saw his newborn son for the first time at Preston Prison, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Police who kept watch on Clough's home saw 150 people visit the property in three days.

When they raided the house, they found cannabis and amphetamine with an estimated street value of £600.

Sentencing, Judge Anthony Russell, QC, told the duo that had they gone to trial they would have been facing three years.

Clough and Pedigrew both admitted being concerned in the supply of amphetamine and cannabis, possessing amphetamine with intent to supply and possessing cannabis.

David Pickup, prosecuting, told the court police received complaints about drug dealing allegedly going on at Spring Street and kept observations. Mr Pickup said officers got a warrant and searched the house.

Clough had amphetamine and tried to leave the house and Pedigrew had a mobile phone which kept ringing.

Police discovered over 14 grammes of cannabis and just over 67 grammes of amphetamine, worth an estimated £600 on the streets.

Mr Pickup said Clough had previous convictions for robbery and burglary and Pedigrew had 15 previous convictions and had served a prison sentence for possessing amphetamine with intent to supply and ecstasy.

Richard Bennett, defending Clough, said he started dealing to get enough cash to put down a deposit on a house.

Michael Murray, defending Pedigrew, said he realised he would go to jail.

He added that the drugs operation gave Pedigrew the chance to get drugs for himself without having to pay for them.

After the case, PC Kath Barnes, community beat manager for Rishton, said: "We hope this reassures residents of Rishton that we will not tolerate drug dealing."