A CANNABIS factory was raided today with more than £40,000 worth of drugs seized.

Police officers in Southampton were alerted when a strange smell was reported to be coming from an address in Holyrood Avenue, Portswood.

The specialist drugs team raided the house at 11am this morning, following investigations by officers.

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They discovered the property was being used to cultivate Cannabis plants, with the property's electrical wiring tampered with to supply the heat and light required to grow the plants.

Engineers from Southern Electric were also at the scene to make the property safe.

More than 400 cannabis plants were discovered in various stages of growth inside. The crop would have had a street value of more than £42,000.

Police believe the house was also being lived in but no one was arrested at the scene.

PC Leigh Walker from the Portswood Safer Neighbourhoods Team said: “Today’s raid will prevent these drugs being sold on the streets of our city and will send a clear message to those running cannabis factories that we won’t tolerate them and will shut them down."

Anyone who thinks similar drugs factories may be in their neighbourhood is asked to contact the Safer Neighbourhoods Team on 0845 045 45 45 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.