£1million of cannabis found growing in disused building

Essex Police officers attended the building in Wash Lane at about 11am on Friday, December 4, after receiving reports of suspicious activity.

They discovered 1,000 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of £1million.

A spokesman for the force said: "Work remains ongoing to dismantle the equipment and remove the plants.

"Cannabis factories are linked to criminals who exploit vulnerable people for their own financial gain.

Drug farm - 1,000 plants were found in the disused building

"These might be people who are exploited or forced to work for them to manage these cultivations, or to sell the drugs."

A nearby resident reported seeing three police cars and a forensics team at the site alongside UK Power Networks engineers.

"I wasn't sure exactly what was going on, but I saw six people in forensics outfits and people cutting the power."

Plants - the Cannabis had an estimated street value of £1million

St James' ward councillor Chris Griffiths praised those who reported the suspicious activity.

He said: "This just goes to show what can be done when alert neighbours work with the police.

"It is credit to the police that they acted on it and got involved in that report of suspicious activity."

Gear - police dismantled the growing equipment

"It's a great example of the police and the community working together.

"It is a very quiet area - it's not the sort of place you expect this sort of thing to happen.

"It just goes to show that this sort of thing can happen anywhere."

Discovery - suspicious activity was reported to the police

Anyone with information about this cannabis factory is asked to call Essex Police on 101 quoting incident 358 of December 4.

Information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or https://crimestoppers-uk.org.