POLICE swarmed a flat and arrested two people suspected of running a brothel.

Officers in plain clothes and uniform barged into the second floor flat after they executed a search warrant.

The raid happened in St Luke’s Close in the St John’s area of Colchester on Tuesday afternoon.

One officer went ahead of the raid squad and knocked on the front door.

Once the door was opened by an occupant the other officers ran up the flight of stairs leading to it and into the premises.

Police searched the flat for a number of hours but have not revealed what was uncovered.

A man and a woman, both aged 22 and from Colchester, were arrested.

They were bailed yesterday.

Neighbours said a number of different tenants had been at the flat in the last two months.

Resident Les Harbottle said: “It is bad, especially if there are young girls involved who are vulnerable.

“I am very, very shocked.”

The flat is above a busy parade of shops in St Christopher Road.

Harry Tuxford, supervisor at the Mccolls convenience store, said: “It is a bit of a surprise. What else can you say? We didn’t even know the raid was going on.

“Clientele here is mainly elderly people and we have a school up the road, so young families.”

Anyone with information about suspected brothels is asked to contact police on 101.