A RAID carried out by police saw dozens of cannabis plants seized and three people arrested.

Residents of Avenue Road, Leigh were left shocked when they saw police arriving at a property on Tuesday night.

Pictures from the scene show a forensics van, along with other cars and officers outside the property at around 6pm.

One resident of the road, who did not wish to be named, said the police were there for six hours.

The 31-year-old said: “There were lots of police cars and there was a forensics van.

“The van came along and they were carrying all this stuff out and they were going in and out all night.

“It looked as though they were growing drugs, they had pot plants.

“It was all really shocking, it’s a nice street we live on.

"They were there for about six or seven hours.

"It looked as though they were growing drugs, they had pot plants.

"It was all really shocking, it's a nice street we live on."

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Officers attended an address in Avenue Road, Leigh shortly before 5.50pm on July 27.

“During a search of the property, they found around 50 cannabis plants.

Three men have been arrested.

“A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of cannabis production and abstracting or use without authority electricity.

“A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of concerned in the supply of a Class B drug and abstracting or use without authority electricity.

“A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of concerned in the supply of a Class B drug.

“All three have since been released under investigation.”

The police said enquiries were ongoing into the incident.

Anyone with information should call 101 or visit essex.police.uk.