TWO heroin pushers caught by police worked for a pair of suppliers called The Lesbians, Worcester Crown Court heard.

The women, named only as Kelly and Lisa, employed a team of runners to distribute heroin on the streets of Redditch and operated from the Mount Pleasant area of the town, said prosecutor Andrew Lockhart.

Drug transactions took place on Church Green in the town centre, at the railway station and in a pub car park.

The police operation, mounted to crack down on dealers, trapped Daniel Coughlin and Stephen Burford, who supplied heroin to undercover officers in May.

Coughlin, aged 41, of Greenfields, Redditch, and 26-year-old Burford, of Dawson Street, Smethwick, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin.

Jailing them both for four years, Judge Michael Mott said their crimes grew out of a need to fund their own addictions.

Some of the meetings between test purchase officers and the dealers were recorded on video, said Mr Lockhart.

The defendants, who had previous convictions for drug possession, were arrested in July.

Burford confessed they were runners for The Lesbians. Coughlin refused to comment.

They must disclose their assets over the last six years to the prosecution for a confiscation hearing in January.

Adam Western, for Coughlin, said he supplied heroin to pay off drug debts. He had made up his mind to stop dealing because of his age shortly before his arrest.

Since being in custody on remand, he had gone through detoxification.

Denis Desmond, for Burford, said he became an addict because he couldn't cope with life.

He pushed drugs after being "lent on" by his supplier to repay heroin debts.