Police seized drugs with a street value of £1.2 million in a dramatic swoop in Dewsbury, it has been revealed.

Armed officers closed off the main Wakefield Road in Earlsheaton yesterday afternoon and arrested suspects from a black BMW.

A specialist police team cornered the car in nearby Old Bank Road at 2.10pm and officers shot the tyres with rubber bullets.

In a desperate bid to make off the driver smashed into a parked Mitsubishi 4x4. Police then rammed the BMW with an unmarked vehicle.

Local residents looked on as police pulled suspects from the BMW and handcuffed them in the street.

Police found 2kg of suspected class A drugs in the car and a search at a house in Wakefield Road – again carried out by armed officers – uncovered a further 40kg of class A drugs.

It is believed the drugs were mainly cocaine but there were other drugs as well.

During the operation Wakefield Road was closed for a short time and students at the nearby Manor Croft Academy – the former Earlsheaton High School – were held back from leaving for around 15 minutes.

No shots were fired during the drama and no one was hurt.

Police said three men aged 30, 22 and 16 and a woman aged 25 were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs. All four remain in police custody.

Det Supt Simon Beldon, of the Regional Organised Crime Unit, said: “The scourge of drugs can have a terrible impact on communities but this operation sends out a loud and clear message that this evil will not be tolerated in West Yorkshire.

“A massive amount of suspected drugs have been seized, drugs that will now be destroyed instead of ending up on the streets and this is something everyone should welcome.

“During this operation members of the public will have seen a large number of police officers, some of whom were armed, on the streets.

“They were there as part of the operation and to provide a reassuring and visible presence on the streets of Dewsbury.”

Anyone who suspects drug dealing should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.