A HUGE cannabis farm containing more than 300 plants was discovered when police raided a home in Leigh.

Essex Police executed a warrant at an address in Hillside Crescent shortly before 9am on Friday morning.

Inside, police discovered a large cannabis cultivation alongside a professional set-up which saw electricity abstracted – and a large axe.

And with a number of cannabis cultivations found in south Essex in recent weeks, the Southend policing team urged residents to continue supplying the force with vital intelligence.

A spokesman for the team said: “Positive drugs warrant executed this morning by officers in Leigh.

“A total of 320 plants were recovered meaning a considerable amount of drugs will not reach the streets of Southend.

“Please keep providing us information, you are our eyes and ears.

“You may not see a reaction straight away, but your information leads to warrants such as this.”

And residents were quick to praise the force for their work.

James Watkins, 47, from Leigh, said: “Great result and very pleasing to see more drugs taken off the streets of Southend.

“This stuff causes real problems and its always good to see raids and convictions. I think tough sentences are the only way to get rid of the drugs problem in Southend.”

Insp Ian Hughes said: “Great result on Friday morning. 320 plants seized which means they won’t find their way onto our streets.”

A man was arrested and released under investigation.

A spokesman for Essex police said: “Officers conducted a warrant in Leigh on Friday.

“They attended an address in Hillside Crescent shortly before 9am and arrested a 25-year-old man on suspicion of the cultivation of cannabis and abstracting electricity. He has since been released under investigation.”