PRITI Patel says she wants to see Cheshire declare war on County Lines drugs dealers during a visit to Crewe today.

The Home Secretary was lending her support to the Conservative candidate for Cheshire's Police and Crime Commissioner vacancy, John Dwyer, with a tour of two local sport and fitness organisations in the forefront of the fight to keep youngsters away from predatory drug gangs.

The town's high-profile visitor swept into the Chuff Chuff creative arts and dance venue, where she was shown around Via Dance and South Cheshire ABC, both of whom have been backed by Mr Dwyer.

Ms Patel met Billie-Jean Parkes, the owner of Via Dance, and Nathan Clarke, who runs the boxing club, which are both based in the Middlewich Street building.

In recent weeks Crewe was the focus for a joint policing exercise with Merseyside Police against County Lines operators and the Home Secretary says that is an example of operations nationwide that have broken up over 600 such lines, used by drug lords to spread their supply networks into small towns and rural areas.

"We have to recognise that it [County Lines] is a problem nationwide, which is why as a government we are unapologetic about the money we have put in, led by the Prime Minister, and we have gone after the County Lines drugs gangs," said Ms Patel.

"We have worked with London [The Met], West Midlands and Merseyside Police as well. Of course, these lines go nationwide, it is a network and we have rolled up over 600 lines and safeguarded thousands of youngsters."

Mr Dwyer, who lives at Hatherton, is aiming to take back the Police and Crime Commissioner's job, he held between 2012 and 2016, off Labour's David Keane at the local election polls on May 6.

The former Crewe and Nantwich borough councillor served as an assistant chief constable in Cheshire Police, and the Home Secretary says he is just the sort of experienced top cop that knows how to help those youngsters at risk of falling prey to the drugs trade.

"John is a well-known figure, well-established when it comes to law enforcement and highly respected. There are always issues with young people, gangs and drug crime," she added. "John understands policing and law enforcement, but he also understands how to support communities and make sure they are getting what they are needed in terms of resources.

"This is why I'd like more Conservative Police and Crime Commissioners, so we can absolutely get on top of these issues to keep people safe and keep our streets safe."

Mr Dwyer says, if elected, he will endeavour to up the numbers of officers on the beat

"The focus today is about diverting youngsters from trouble and keeping them away from the harm of County Lines. This boxing club and dance club, go some way to addressing those issues.

"Cheshire's big issue is that people want more police numbers. I've done a quick calculation, which would be subject to Home Office approval, but it is that we should be heading towards an establishment of police officers of 2,320 over the next two to three years.

"That's my aim because that big number of police officers will mean the public will start to feel safe on the streets."

Billie-Jean, who learnt a specialist sign language so she could communicate with one of her dance pupils, who has Downs Syndrome, told the Home Secretary how her 12-year-old organisation has helped teenagers expelled from mainstream education get their lives back on track.

Ms Patel added: "These studio and boxing facilities are giving youngsters the opportunities and importantly acting to diverge them from potential harm. They are giving kids new experiences and life skills."