A court has heard that 11 people from Cumbria were involved in a massive criminal plot to flood the county with illegal drugs.

Carlisle Crown Court heard how illicit substances with an estimated street value of almost £1 million were seized by police as they smashed a conspiracy which ran for several months last year.

This was directed from outside Cumbria by a serving prisoner who managed a trusted network of lieutenants, couriers and dealers.

A total of 18 people have admitted their involvement in the illegal enterprise. Six are from Carlisle, four are Barrow-based and one has a Workington address.

A two-day sentencing hearing got underway at the crown court today.

A prosecutor revealed that vast amounts of high purity cocaine, along with cannabis and methcathinone (MCAT), was recovered by police.

This had been shipped from elsewhere in the North West and was said to have been destined for north, west and south Cumbria.

Judge Barbara Forrester is expected to pass sentence on 17 of the 18 defendants tomorrow, including: Pape Logan, of Newlands Lane South, Workington; along with James Blacklock, 30, of Warwick Square; Aaron Giacopazzi, 29, of St Elizabeths Close; Jason Farmer, 27, of Gilsland Road; Jake Barnes, 23, of Greta Avenue; James Kennedy, 24, of Edgehill Road, all Carlisle.

Tyler Clark, 23, of Edgehill Road, Carlisle, will be given her punishment at a later date.