A LARGE-scale underground cannabis farm has been discovered in a network of historic tunnels.

Police officers seized more than 400 cannabis plants in the former military Drakelow Tunnels complex near Kidderminster when a search warrant was executed at about 9am under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The street value of the drugs has been initially estimated at around £650,000 and officers also found a network of hydroponic equipment including heating, lighting and ventilation fans.

The plants were in various stages of growth and cultivation.

Earlier officers executed an associated search warrant in a dawn swoop on an address in Kidderminster where a 45-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering and being concerned in the production and supply of controlled drugs.

A quantity of cash was also seized at the property.

North Worcestershire Superintendent Kevin Purcell said: “While we have made an arrest in connection with this I would stress that this is a dynamic, ongoing investigation and we would very much like to hear from anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity near the tunnels or know anything that could be helpful to our inquiry.”

Drakelow Tunnels were used to manufacture machine parts during the Second World War and in the late 1950s it was designated by the Home Office as a regional seat of government in the event of a nuclear attack during the Cold War.

The 285,000sq ft network of tunnels stretch for about three miles and during the 50s were also used by the Ministry of Supply for storage.

Anyone with information should call the police on the non-emergency number 101.