A LANDLADY has said her pub has lost thousands of pounds in takings after it was targeted by police in a drugs raid.

Lavelle Lee, 44, who runs the New Inn pub, Thomas Street, Oswaldtwistle, was arrested along with her partner Dave Howlett, 46, during the police swoop last month.

Now the pair have been told that they will face no charges and Ms Lee says the publicity surrounding the raids has almost destroyed their trade.

They were both arrested for allegedly obstructing officers.

She said: "When we took over in December the pub was known locally as the Flying Bottle' and we had done well to get rid of the rough element of our customers.

"The raid was such a shock. I don't know anybody involved with drugs and have no idea why the police were interested in our pub."

The New Inn was targeted in a series of raids as part of Operation Hornbeam, an ongoing investigation into drugs supply in East Lancashire. Other pubs and properties were also searched in Oswaldtwistle and Accrington.

A police spokesman confirmed that neither Ms Lee or Mr Howlett will face any charges.

He said: "The search warrant at the New Inn was implemented as part of an investigation into the intended importation, production and supply of controlled drugs within East Lancashire."

l Three other men, arrested during the raids have all been rebailed until September.

They are a 25-year-old from High Street, Oswaldtwistle, a 49-year-old from the Last Orders Pub, Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, and 36-year-old Brierfield town councillor Mazer Iqbal from Halifax Road, Brierfield.