FOUR people have been arrested after police raided a network of cannabis farms in a small town.

Officers say they have uncovered a large scale operation to grow drugs at a number of properties in Consett, County Durham.

One person was arrested at a cottage attached to the Stanefordham Arms pub, in Moorside, where police seized bagged up cannabis with an estimated street value of £2,400 as well as a substantial amount of cash.

Following the initial arrest, police searched a number of other properties in the Consett area and arrested a further three people after discovering several cannabis farms.

All four were being interviewed today at Consett police station on suspicion of producing and distributing drugs.

Chief Inspector Ian Butler, head of neighbourhood policing in Derwentside, said: "Initial enquiries suggest that we may have uncovered a large scale operation to produce and supply cannabis from a number of properties in the Consett area.

"We will be carrying out further enquiries and searches over the next few days to establish the extent of this operation and question those suspected of being involved."