OFFICERS discovered 130 cannabis plants at a business unit.

Several witnesses reporting smell a strong smell of the drug as they drove past the area at London Road as the raid took place yesterday afternoon. 

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.

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"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 yesterday and the day before.

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"We all suspected that it was cannabis.

"The smell was horrendous."

An Echo reader, 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:

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

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

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

The company is in no way connected to the raid.