POLICE who went after a man involved in an accident were led straight to a cannabis factory at his home.

Officers were called to the scene of an accident at 5.07am on Sunday morning on the eastbound exit slipway at at junction 17 of the M4. A Volkswagen Golf was blocking part of the roundabout near the exit for the A429 towards Stanton St Quintin.

The driver had fled but officers used his registration to track him down to a house in Foghamshire. Nobody was at home when they called but when they returned at 7am they found 40 cannabis plants.

A 30-year-old man was arrested and bailed in connection with the cannabis find and for drink driving.

A police spokesman said: “Officers were called by a member of the public at 5.07am on Sunday morning to report a road traffic collision involving a VW Golf which had crashed at the top of the eastbound sliproad on to the M4 at Junction 17.

“When officers arrived at the scene, the driver had left the vehicle and they were advised that a man had been seen running along the B4122. Officers later attended the man’s address in Chippenham and discovered a cannabis factory in the first floor front bedroom.”

Neighbour Robert Chapman heard lots of noise during the morning before heading out to work.

He said: “There was a police car at the end and they were pounding on the door. I came to my front door and looked out, obviously opened the door and saw all the police. There was shouting and they knocked down the door.

“I have never had any issues living down here before.”

One witness, who also lives on the road, said: “They shouted, ‘We know you’re in there’. We saw them go around the back and eventually they came out with a gentleman. They brought out plants in bags too.

“We were a bit scared to think someone could actually do all that in amongst us.”

Another Foghamshire resident said: “We saw the vans and wondered what was going on, we were really concerned. This is a lovely little street, I was very shocked.

“Normally the street is very quiet; it’s a shame when something like that happens. It’s a bit scary but it could have been worse.”

The accident near the M4 occurred just two days after a night of action by the Wiltshire Police Special Constabulary to tackle speeding, drink driving, using mobile phones while driving and failing to wear seatbelts.

On Friday, 185 vehicles were stopped by 30 Specials from across the county, including Chippenham and Corsham, were actively stopping drivers of vehicles who were suspected of or seen committing an offence.