A council boss has vowed to help police crash down on drug crime, after a huge crop of more than 200 cannabis plants were found in a police raid at a drugs farm.

Officers discovered the plants at the property in Wickford yesterday morning.

Images shared by Essex Police show a large room, fitted out with ventilation equipment and lighting, with the hundreds of plants inside.

Police say two people are being quizzed in connection with the drugs farm at the property.

Police did not reveal the location.

David Harrison, Wickford Independents councillor for Wickford Park, who saw the image online hopes the people behind the operation are in court soon.

He said: “I have seen the image and it’s a big building. I think it is shocking and rare for Wickford and I say well done to the police for finding out about it.

“This is a very good result for the police and that amount of plants could be a lot of drugs on the streets. It looks like a very well organised operation.

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“It is good to see all these drugs taken off the streets and I think it probably does cause some concern in the community when people hear about this.

“These drugs could do a lot of damage to people and we don’t want this going on anywhere in the borough.”

The leader of the Wickford Independents Group said he’s pleased to see police took swift action.

Andrew Baggott, Tory leader of Basildon Council, said: “This is great work from the police and we want to engage with officers and work with them to eradicate this from our community.

“I hope this is the first of many and it reinforces the messages people like this are not welcome in our borough.”

A spokesman for Essex Police - Basildon District said: “The Wickford and Billericay Community Policing Team, have executed a warrant in Wickford this morning and located a large cannabis cultivation of over 200 plants.

Two people are in custody for questioning.

“If you have any information that you would like to share with us about crime, please feel free to contact us on 101.”

Alternatively, information can also be given to independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or https://crimestoppers-uk.

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