People living on a city estate near to Norwich Cathedral whose lives had been blighted by drug dealers and prostitutes say things have improved following a police crackdown.

A number of residents living in Cotman Fields, off Bishopgate, near to Norwich Cathedral, had repeatedly called police about problems with drugs, alcohol and prostitutes which have left some of them too afraid to leave their homes.

But people living in the area say things were getting better following pre-planned dawn raids at drugs hotspots in nearby William White Place, off Bishop Bridge Road.

Police made six arrests as part of a trio of raids last month which were carried out as part of the force's ongoing Operation Gravity blitz.

A 63-year-old man, who did not want to be named, said: 'I think its like everything else, we have to wait and see, but a month on and a lot of people are saying its a lot better than it was. It is quieter.'

Following the raids police had promised there would be more high visibility raids in the area and the man said there had been more officers in the area, including when Norwich City were playing at Carrow Road.

He said: 'We've seen a small amount of police in the area. It's encouraging.'

As previously reported one woman had outlined some of the issues she had suffered in a letter to Norfolk police.

The letter, which described how car doors slamming during the day and night was also an issue, said: 'On the estate itself we've had urinating on our walls, waste deposits and even human waste under the archway. The drug dealers do a lot of business here and so do the prostitutes.'

A police spokesman said they had been aware of concerns from people living in the area about drug related anti-social behaviour but hoped the recent action would 'reassure residents that we are tackling the problem' and confirmed visible patrols in the area would be stepped up.

Operation Gravity has seen more than 100 suspected drug dealers arrested by police in Norfolk as the drive to rid our county of heroin and cocaine, as well as arrests in the capital.

• Anyone with information about illegal drug activity should contact Norfolk Constabulary on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.