A suspected brothel has been closed after a raid by police who seized stocks, whips and chains from a town centre flat in the Black Country.

Four women were arrested and two were still in custody today as police continue to investigate the ground-floor flat in Abberley Street, Dudley.

Det Sgt Andy Fennell said the investigation, codename Operation Unwrap, had been launched after complaints from the public, and a team of 20 officers stormed the building yesterday afternoon.

“It was quite specific information that we received from members of the community, who told us there was a brothel there,” he said.

A 43-year-old woman and a 28-year-old woman, both from Wolverhampton, were released without charge.

A 35-year-old woman from Pendeford was also arrested at the scene and a 45-year-old woman from Dudley was arrested later.

Det Sgt Fennell said they had both been kept in overnight and interviews would be continuing today.

Officers swooped on the flat yesterday morning and took a number of men into custody as they left the property to interview them about what they had been up to.

They then made their move on the building at around 1.30pm.

Det Sgt Fennell said there had been a “constant stream” of callers at the flat between 10am and noon yesterday.

“We believe it’s a daytime operation, which obviously means normal residents would largely be at work,” he added.

Twenty-five officers were involved in the case over all, including the force operation support unit, CID and the neighbourhood team.

The squad was able to get into the flat without causing any damage to the building as a wrought-iron gate, apparently installed for extra security, had been left unlocked.

Det Sgt Fennell said officers found a reception area with price lists on the wall, advertising services including full sex for £30. Three bedrooms were in use and one of them had been transformed into a “dungeon room” complete with three specially-adapted chairs, he said.

A thorough search revealed a set of stocks, whips, chains, and various adult toys, plus a small amount of cannabis.

Det Sgt Fennell said: “More than anything we have a responsibility to react to community concerns, which there clearly was in this case.

“It could also be a valuable chance to get some money back from criminal activity through the Proceeds of Crime Act.”

Residents living yards from the flat today spoke of their disgust that a brothel may be operating in their midst.

Householders in adjacent Churchfield Street said there had been rumours for years of shady activity at the property in Abberley Street. However they said they were shocked at what police found on the other side of the door when they raided the ground floor flat, a stone’s throw from Blowers Green Primary School.

Trainee caterer Jamila Morris, aged 28, lives in Churchfield Street with her three children aged 10, eight and one.

She said: “There have been rumours about it since I moved here but I had no idea there were things like a dungeon room.”

Neighbour Michael Kendrick, 34, said: “It’s not something you want to hear about. It gives the town a bad name.”