POLICE officers based in Wellington smashed their way into a drug 'factory' at Ham on Sunday and siezed a large quantity of cannabis plants and equipment.

Along with officers from Taunton, they swooped on a house at Castle Cottages, acting on information received at addresses in Taunton.

The Wellington haul is part of a total of more than 1,000 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of around £400,000 which were siezed in raids in Wellington and at two properties in Silver Street, Taunton.

Police smashed a door down at Castle Cottages to get in. During Monday and yesterday, Tuesday, forensic officers continued to painstakingly dismantle the cannabis operation set up in the terraced cottage as astonished neighbours looked on.

A police van took away evidence, making a number of trips to a secure pound, packed with brown paper sacks of cannabis plants, along with gas cyclinders, electrical and heating equipment used by the gang to grow the weed.

Around 160 plants were taken away for destruction after officers discovered them in an upstairs bedroom and a large shed in a garden.

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