THREE men have been arrested after police discovered a cannabis factory in Gorse Hill.

Police rushed to Omdurman Street at 2.30am this morning after neighbours reported the sound of windows smashing. 

When they arrived the factory was found, with more than 20 plants. A man was arrested at the building for suspicion of cultivation of cannabis. He has refused to give any details to police and remains unknown but is being held in custody at Gablecross.

At the same time the driver of a vehicle was spotted attempting to leave the area but it was stopped and searched.  Approximately £8,500 in cash was seized and a man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis and taken to custody.

A second vehicle then arrived at the building before officers followed it to Barnum Court, where it was stopped and searched. Baseball bats and mobile phones were found inside with the driver, in his 30s, arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis and possession of an offensive weapon.

A search of an address in Barnum Court was then conducted where drugs paraphernalia and approximately £1,200 cash was found.

Insp Steve Love said: “Thanks to the vigilance of members of the public who initially reported concerns regarding activity at the Omdurman Street address, officers have been able to arrest three individuals and dismantle a cannabis factory.

"The full extent of the factory is not currently known, however, there were plants growing across two rooms of the address.

“Our enquiries are ongoing today and we’d urge anyone with information to contact us on 101 and quote crime reference number 54200074315.”