THREE people have been jailed for their part in a conspiracy to supply class A drugs between Merseyside and Barrow.

Preston Crown Court heard how a couple from Barrow had been seen by police dealing drugs near their home in Kepple Street on January 8.

Vicky Arts and Andrew Millington were spotted by police making deals around a half a dozen times in the space of two hours, the court heard.

Arts admitted two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs while Millington admitted being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and heroin.

Millington, who also admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs, manned a 'dealer' phone from Liverpool in what was described as a 'typical county lines operation'.

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said: "Police officers were carrying out surveillance on Keppel Street in Barrow, the home address of the defendant Arts and her co-defendant and partner Mr Millington.

"Over a relatively brief window between 1pm and 2.40pm the officers saw the defendant leave the property on at least a dozen occasions.

"They met up with with at least 10 known Barrow drug users.

"The meetings were extremely brief. There appeared there was exchanges of drugs taking place."

Mr Parker said police later raided the house in Keppel Street and arrested the pair, recovering around £1,500 in cash and at least £500 worth of crack cocaine and heroin.

A youth later found to have been the victim of modern slavery was also seen in the property.

Police recovered mobile phones used by the couple, which had received messages advertising drugs for purchase.

Officers found the phone had been used to contact a number listed with the name 'Skinny New'.

Police tracked the contact to Liverpool and found it was being run by the third defendant Connor Quinn from Merseyside.

Arts admitted she had allowed her home to be used in the supply of drugs but was involved at the end of the supply line in offences that lasted for two days.

The court heard Arts, 36, and Millington, 38, had significant criminal records, including previous drug offences.

Quinn, 21, is serving a prison sentence having been jailed for drug offences in Norwich.

Lawyers representing the trio all said the defendants were aware they would receive substantial prison sentences and were prepared to address issues with drug abuse and mental health while serving behind bars.

Arts was sentenced to five and a half years in prison, Millington to more than six years and Quinn to two years.