CHILDREN were found cowering in a Walcot crack den used by London men suspected of dealing drugs.

Now, police have secured a closure order on the Marlowe Avenue home - meaning only the woman living at the house and her children can come-and-go.

The three-month closure notice, which was signed off by magistrates this week, is the seventh to be obtained by police in the past two months.

Two 21-year-old men from London were found in the Marlowe Avenue house during a police raid last weekend. Children aged one to 15 were discovered in the house with their month.

It is believed the London pair had "cuckooed" the vulnerable 37-year-old homeowner, forcing her to let them use her house as a base from which to deal drugs. Both men have been released on police bail, with conditions not to return to Swindon.

A/Insp David Tippetts said: “We have responded swiftly to intelligence and put the closure order process in place at the same time that two males were arrested.

“This power enables us to protect vulnerable people, and disrupt the activity of these drugs networks, preventing class A drugs from reaching people within our communities.

“Now we have this partial closure order in place, we will continue to monitor the address with regular visits, and anyone found in the premises other than those who are permitted, will be liable to arrest."