Three men who flooded Congleton with drugs have been jailed.

Hayden Brooks, 19, Anthony Fox and James Spindler, both 23, have been put behind bars for a combined 11 years.

It comes following an investigation into a county lines drugs plot operating from Merseyside into Congleton.

Detective Sergeant Shaun McNee said: "After launching an investigation into this County Line, thankfully we were quickly able to arrest Brooks, Fox and Spindler who were clearly behind this drugs plot.

"County Lines gangs have no regard for the young, vulnerable people they coerce into running drugs across the country, often with threats of violence and intimidation.

"Merseyside Police leads nationally on the response to County Lines through Project Medusa and we will relentlessly target those crime groups who cowardly exploit vulnerable people in our communities.

"We know the devastation that drugs cause and Merseyside Police remains relentless in our pursuit of these criminals and ending their drugs trade."

Hayden Brooks, James Spindler and Anthony Fox (Credit: Merseyside Police)

In April this year, officers from Merseyside Police's Operation Toxic began investigating the 'Scouse Jeff' County Line, which was peddling drugs from Merseyside into Congleton.

Fox, of Byron Close in Huyton, was quickly identified as being part of the County Line and he was arrested the following month.

This was swiftly followed by the arrests and eventual charges of Brooks and Spindler in the subsequent days.

The trio were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday (July 23) after admitting to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, namely heroin and cocaine.

Fox was given the longest sentence at five years and six months.

Brooks, of Neston Street in Liverpool, was given three years while Spindler, of Arpley Street in Warrington, has been sentenced to two years and six months.