HUNDREDS of cannabis plants worth about £176,000 were discovered in a flat in the centre of Pershore this morning.

Police battered the front door down to the home in the Mews, just off Bridge Street, at around 10am today after receiving a tip off from a neighbour.

Eight officers, including three community support officers, carried out the raid on the cannabis farm, which was also attended by a Journal reporter and photographer.

They were greeted with three rooms jam packed full of around 210 quite mature cannabis plants, a further room containing harvested plants and a loft with black bags full of dried cannabis ready to be sold on.

Scented candles were being used to mask the smell of the plants and a sophisticated ventilation system was in place in the roof.

No one was in the flat when the police arrived although there was a pan containing congealed food on the stove, a half drunk bottle of red wine and milk dating back to November.

It is one of the biggest raids the town has seen in recent years and police officers at the scene said it was a professional set up for a cannabis farm in a house.

PC Sean Woods, the new Pershore Town Local Policing Officer, who was tasked with battering his way into the house, said it was a great result just before Christmas.

"I am ecstatic," he said. "There is 30 full black bin bags up in the loft and the plants, it's a substantial amount of cannabis. That's a very good result.

"As soon as I started to hit that door I knew we were going to find something because it was so secure."

PC Woods said he hoped this result would show the police will act on tip offs from the public.

"What it shows is that when the public are concerned about something and come forward to us we act on it straight away," he said . "As a result these people haven't had a chance to get this stuff out on the street.

"I would encourage anyone with information about drugs, dealing or growing, in Pershore to actively seek me out."

Inspector Janet Heritage, who was also at the raid, said: "Absolutely we are pleased. This is large scale for Pershore and it's all thanks to people letting us know what was here."

Officers said they would now begin investigating who was behind the cannabis farm.

No one had been arrested at the time the Journal went to press.

Officers encourage those who have suspicion of drugs activity to call West Mercia Police on their non-emergency number, 101.