POLICE have secured funding to mount signs around an industrial estate warning people that they are taking action against drugs and crime.

The Castle Point and Rochford community policing team have been given £300 from the police and crime commissioner to create four signs warning residents that they are waging the war against criminals on Canvey.

The four signs are expected to be put in place in and around the Charfleets industrial estate for the next month.

It comes after two cannabis factories in two different units were found on the estate in the same week earlier this month.

In one of the raids, officers were tipped off by a business owner about a smell of cannabis coming from a neighbouring unit, in Charfleets Road. They found 400 plants worth up to £50,000.

So far, no arrests have been made.

Sgt Mark McQuade said: “I have managed to secure some funding from the community support partnership via the police and crime commissioner to have some new road side signs made for us.

“These signs will let drivers know that we are actively targeting cannabis cultivation on Charfleets and hopefully will act as a deterrent.

“Two of the signs will be focussed around drugs and two of them will be about letting the public know that we are stopping vehicles to check for vehicle crime and drugs.

“It is to show people that police are regularly in the area.

“We are hoping that this can make a difference.”

Anyone who knows the people who are responsible for the growing cannabis in the Charfleets industrial estate can call the community policing team on Essex Police 101 or crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Alternatively they can visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org to fill out an online form.