Arrests as cannabis farms worth £3.5m found

Thousands of mature cannabis plants were discovered in the abandoned unit

Three men have been arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis after plants worth an estimated £2.7m was discovered.

Nearly 3,000 mature cannabis plants and several boxes of already cropped plants were found in an abandoned industrial unit in Hortonwood, Telford, Shropshire, on Friday.

The men, aged 27, 30 and 45, were living in the unit and were taken into custody.

The discovery comes days after another farm containing 874 plants, worth an estimated £800,000, were discovered at a property in Woodside in the town on Wednesday.

West Mercia Police said the three men tried to avoid arrest by breaking down a back door.

"Many illicit cannabis farms are controlled by serious and organised crime gangs, which often use violence, intimidation, and illegal activities to operate," said Sgt Matt Corfield.

No arrests have been made over the Woodside discovery and inquiries are ongoing.