Two south Essex men have been arrested as part of a police crackdown on children being exploited online.

Officers carried out raids at addresses in Westcliff and Rayleigh after identifying men suspected of distributing indecent child pictures.

Essex Police’s online investigation team has performed a series of search warrants after receiving intelligence.

On Tuesday, officers searched a house in Westcliff and arrested a man, 24, on suspicion of making and possessing indecent images of children.

His computer, phone and various games consoles were seized for officers to examine.

Last Wednesday, a man, 37, was arrested in Rayleigh on suspicion of distributing indecent images of children. He also had his computer and mobile phone seized.

Later that day, a man, 25, was arrested in Chadwell St Mary on suspicion of distributing indecent images of children.

The officers seized his computer and mobile phone as part of the investigation.

As part of the same operation, a 24-year-old man was arrested in Braintree on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.

His computer was also seized.

All four men were released on police bail pending further enquiries.

The arrests come after Safer Internet Day 2016, a nationwide initiative on Tuesday, which promoted the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people Det Insp Paul Lopez, who led the execution of the warrants, said his team are being proactive in tackling people who use the internet to target children.

He said: "We are becoming increasingly sophisticated in identifying offenders and we will always take positive action in investigating these cases as we have done over the last week.

“At the end of each image is a child victim and we will not tolerate this behaviour in our communities."

Anyone with information about anyone using the internet to exploit children can call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.