Police have made more than 300 arrests and seized knives and guns in a crackdown on gang violence ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival.

At least 26 people were arrested in dawn raids across London on Tuesday, meaning a total of 316 people have been arrested in the last 12 days.

Eight addresses in Lewisham, south-east London, were searched and eight arrests made early on Tuesday morning in a planned, intelligence-led operation.

A number of raids were also carried out in Kensington and Chelsea, the borough where the world-famous carnival takes place every August bank holiday weekend.

In one property, uncut crack cocaine with an estimated street value of £60,000 was discovered, along with multiple bags of powder thought to be heroin.

Police have arrested at least 26 people in a series of dawn raids ahead of Notting Hill Carnival which is due to take place on August bank holiday weekend

Eight addresses in Lewisham, south-east London, were searched and eight arrests made early on Tuesday morning in a planned, intelligence-led operation

A number of raids were also carried out in Kensington and Chelsea, the borough where the world-famous carnival takes place every August bank holiday weekend

Officers searched 21 homes in Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster, and Wandsworth, arresting 18 people

Officers searched 21 homes in Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Westminster, and Wandsworth, arresting 18 people.

The crackdown - against knife crime, drugs and child exploitation - was carried out by more than 100 officers from the Metropolitan Police, City of London Police and the British Transport Police.

Since Friday August 11, and not including Tuesday's raids, officers have made more than 290 arrests for a range of offences, recovering 190 knives and 18 firearms.

Tuesday's arrests were predominantly for possession with intent to supply drugs.

If some of those arrested are then bailed, they will be forbidden from attending the carnival, Scotland Yard said.

Officers known as 'super recognisers' will be in the area and monitoring CCTV to help spot those banned from the parade.

The crackdown - against knife crime, drugs and child exploitation - was carried out by more than 100 officers

Rude awakening: Suspected criminals were pulled from their beds on Tuesday morning as part of an intelligence-led operation

In one property, uncut crack cocaine with an estimated street value of £60,000 was discovered, along with multiple bags of powder thought to be heroin

Since Friday August 11, and not including Tuesday's raids, officers have made more than 290 arrests for a range of offences, recovering 190 knives and 18 firearms

Tuesday's arrests were predominantly for possession with intent to supply drugs. If some of those arrested are then bailed, they will be forbidden from attending the carnival

Officers known as 'super recognisers' will be in the area and monitoring CCTV to help spot those banned from the parade

Cuffed: A series of dawn raids were executed across the capital. The activity was primarily to crackdown on the supply of drugs

A further three men and two women were arrested at a terraced house in south-east London, while a young child was taken by police to stay with her grandparents.

Chief Superintendent Robyn Williams, the Met's spokesman for Notting Hill Carnival, said: 'Our officers have been proactive and focused on tackling serious violence and knife crime across London.

'Today's operation is aimed at ensuring that those who intend to cause trouble at Carnival are prohibited from doing so.

'We are committed to ensuring that Carnival remains a safe, vibrant and enjoyable event; troublemakers are not welcome.

'We will be uncompromising in our operations to keep our communities safe and secure. People can expect to see operational activity right up until, and throughout the bank holiday weekend.'

During the 2016 carnival more than 450 people were arrested, the highest number since 2010, in a police operation which cost the taxpayer £8 million.

Asked if Scotland Yard had prior intelligence that those targeted were planning to disrupt the carnival, Ms Williams said: 'What we would say is that they are criminals and there is intelligence of their criminal activity and that, in the midst of the biggest policing event at carnival, actually means that we needed to proactively target them.'

And on Twitter, the force said: 'Prior to NottingHillCarnival, we're disrupting gang crime, drug supply, knife crime & offences that could impact the safety of the weekend.'