A “SOPHISTICATED” cannabis farm was uncovered in a police raid on a business unit.

Officers discovered 130 “mature” cannabis plants at a vacant business unit in London Road, Hadleigh.

Several witnesses reported a strong smell of the drug as they drove past the unit as the raid took place on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “After a report from a member of the public concerned for the safety of a property in Hadleigh, officers discovered the building had been turned into a sophisticated cannabis cultivation and approximately 130 mature plants and related equipment was seized.

“If anyone has any information relating to this incident or are similarly concerned for a property in their area then please use the link at the top of the page and email us.”

A witness to the raid, who did not want to be named, said: “Police were in and out of the [the unit] round the back all day.

Echo:

“We all suspected that it was cannabis.

“The smell was horrendous.

An Echo reader also commented: “I’m so glad this has been found and shut down, it was right by a school and the smell when walking past was awful.”

Echo:

Police at the scene

Pictures show officers inside the building and a connecting garage, which was the old branch of Essex Carpets.

The firm, which also has a warehouse in Eastwood, moved further up the road to the old Santander building in London Road, opposite Iceland, several months ago.

The Echo made contact with bosses at Essex Carpets who confirmed they did not own the building which had been raided and that they had previously rented it.

The company is in no way connected to the raid.

The raid adds to the long list of drugs busts which have taken place in the Castle Point and Southend boroughs during lockdown, marking another success for Essex Police.

Southend drugs bust: £2m cannabis haul is town’s biggest find

One of the biggest saw almost 3,000 cannabis plants, worth an estimated £2 million, seized in Southend, in April.

The enormous cultivation was found at Grainger Road industrial estate, after a warrant was issued.

Five units containing a total of 2,878 plants were found during the search, and a 31-year-old man and a 35-year-old man, both from Southend, were arrested and charged with being concerned in the production of Class B drugs.