A police crackdown on drug-dealing and anti-social behaviour in one Ruislip park has been hailed a success by people living nearby.

Hillingdon police officers have increased their patrols of King's College Playing Fields in King's College Road over the last month as part of an operation to stamp out anti-social and criminal behaviour.

In just a few weeks police have made five arrests for a mixture of possession of cannabis, possession with intent to supply, obstruction and public order offences.

Three mopeds have also been seized for insurance and licence offences.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: "Over the last few years residents have noticed the open use of drugs in the area near to the skate park.

"It meant that it was stopping youngsters, families and genuine users of the skate park from going in there and I think it was the fact that it was so blatant and out in the open that it really annoyed everyone.

"I wrote to several people living around the park to say we should not be afraid to say to people that it is not appropriate and they should move on.

"It has been really effective. All of the residents have really got on board with it, the Friends of Pinn Meadows have been very supportive and dog walkers and anyone who spots anyone using drugs in that area will tell them to stop and call the police straight away.

"The police have been brilliant, they have really helped us to get rid of the problem and we hope this sort of thing can work elsewhere," she said.

"We have families back in there and kids using the skate park for the right reasons."

Inspector David George of Hillingdon Police said: "There is a zero tolerance policy on this behaviour.

"We continue to regularly patrol King's College Playing Fields and will do throughout the summer so that the park can be enjoyed by people in the way it should be."