POLICE have discovered what is believed to be the biggest cannabis farm ever uncovered in a North-East town.

Beat officers were carrying out a separate investigation in Hartlepool's Whitburn Street when they noticed the distinctive smell of the plants coming from a disused garage.

They tipped off their drugs squad colleagues, who raided the garage and discovered about 120 cannabis plants with a street value of up to 120,000.

The whole upper floor of the building had been converted into a sophisticated operation, complete with an array of powerful heat lamps, timers and sprinklers.

Sergeant Ken Bennett, of the Hartlepool police drugs unit, said: "When we saw the number of plants, it is not surprising that you could smell it in the street.

"This was quite a complex operation, with the size of the room, the equipment involved and the amount of plants that have been growing.

"This is one of the biggest finds we have made in Hartlepool. It's certainly one of the biggest I've seen."

A Cleveland police spokeswoman said yesterday (Tues, Sept 18) that a man had been arrested in connection with the find and released on police bail, pending further inquiries.