A POLICE raid at Valley Park uncovered a cannabis factory cultivating illegal drugs with a street value of about £40,000.

Teams of officers who swooped on the site at Bird Field Close also took away expensive equipment used to produce the class-C drug.

A police spokesman estimated this was valued at about £15,000 itself.

The dawn raid at Valley Park was part of an undercover operation to flush out drug dealers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The illegal cultivation of cannabis has also been going on in other parts of the Test Valley and action has been taken against those involved, say the police.

West Hampshire police spokesman Alan Smith said a 33-year-old man is due to be sentenced next month in connection with the Valley Park drugs swoop.

Mr Smith said the unnamed man had been charged with producing a quantity of class-C drugs and with possession and intent to supply.

"We have officers out and about on a daily basis getting information on those involved with drugs. During the last year across the west Hampshire area over 30 drug-related arrests were made and three cannabis factories closed as a result. Other drugs have also been seized. Anyone involved faces hefty fines or imprisonment. They could have assets such as a car or other personal possessions seized. We are fortunate that west Hampshire doesn't have a major problem with drugs but we must be aware of it and are doing all we can to disrupt supplies and keep them to a minimum. People must be made aware cannabis is still illegal," said Mr Smith.

Since the war on drugs - code named Operation Crackdown - was launched in mid-January more than 60 people have been arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs and thousands of pounds worth of illegal drugs has been seized across the county.

Heroin, cocaine, crack and ecstasy pills worth £42,000 have been taken away from suspects' homes and premises and 27 people have since been charged with various drug offences.

Courts issued drug closure orders (DCOs) allowing police officers to shut-down 29 premises mostly in the Portsmouth area where people were suspected of dealing or using class-A drugs.

Hampshire police's chief superintendent Matthew Greening warned the drive to stamp out illegal drugs would continue.

"Disrupting the supply of class-A drugs is an important priority for us. Addicts are often involved in other types of crime to feed their habit. The misuse of drugs is a blight on all our communities and we want to be rid of it whenever and wherever we can.

"To protect our communities and make our streets safer we will carry on the good work we are doing on Operation Crackdown and to do that we need help. We are grateful to all the people who came forward to report suspicious activity but we known there are still more people out there who have suspicions, but are worried about coming forward," said Mr Greening, who added people who suspected illegal drug activities were going on could always contact the Crimestoppers hotline 0800 555111.