Police remove THREE THOUSAND cannabis plants being secretly grown in disused builders' merchants premises in Milton Keynes

Officers had received reports of suspicious activity at the former Travis Perkins depot at Simpson Road in Fenny Stratford.

The busted the premises earlier this week and discovered a massive hydroponic factory. Cannabis plants were said to be growing "floor to ceiling" in the 100,000 sq ft building, say witnesses.

It is believed to be the biggest ever haul of cannabis found under one roof in MK.

The building has been empty and boarded up since Travis Perkins moved to Denbigh Road in Bletchley more than a year ago.

Residents had noticed a strong smell of cannabis when walking past it but assumed it was people smoking around the back of the building.

"My wife said she could smell cannabis when she walked the dog past it, but we didn't take much notice. You seem to smell the stuff everywhere these days with kids taking a puff when they're out and about," said one man.

"I'd noticed lights were on and off at different times when I walked past, but I assumed it was just for security reasons. We had no idea all this was going on right under our noses."

On Monday afternoon residents noticed police cars around the boarded-up building and asked what was happening.

"The officers told me they'd found a massive cannabis factory in there. The plants were packed floor to ceiling and they estimated there was about £1.5m worth," said one.

"It's a huge amount of cannabis," said another. "It's probably enough to supply the whole of MK."

He added: "The power to keep the factory must have been used illegally. Police arranged for it to be disconnected and more than 50 houses nearby were without power while it was being done."

Police officers guarded the premises overnight until they could move the plants out. They will all ultimately be destroyed.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said today: "Police attended an industrial unit in Simpson Road on Monday following a report of suspicious activity. Officers found equipment for the cultivation of cannabis as well as cannabis itself in the unit.

The spokesman added: "A large quantity of plants have been seized, currently believed to be around 3,000."

An investigation is ongoing and anyone with information can contact Thames Valley Police by calling 101 or making a report online, quoting reference 43210177530.