Police have smashed a £100,000 cannabis “factory” at a Telford home.Nearly 300 cannabis plants were seized by police from a terraced house in School Road, Donnington.

Detectives are now hunting the culprits, who had fled the property by the time police arrived. Officers made the discovery when an investigation was launched into a water leak at a neighbouring property.

Extensive damage had been caused throughout the property to grow about 290 mature cannabis plants.

The electricity supply had also been tampered with to provide the huge amount of power needed to heat the property for the plants.

A number of personal items were also seized and West Mercia Police’s Telford drugs unit has launched an investigation.

Initial inquiries suggest the cannabis plants, discovered in three upstairs bedrooms and the dining room, could have eventually produced drugs with a street value of more than £100,000.

The investigation is expected to continue for some time.

Detectives today warned private landlords to carefully vet their tenants and make regular checks on their property.

Detective Constable Paul Stoddart-Crompton, from the drugs unit, said: “This is the second discovery of this nature in the past month and on this occasion the cannabis production caused extensive interior damage at the address, which extended to virtually the entire three-bedroom property.

“Beyond the obvious concerns we have about the growth of illegal drugs, public safety is also a major worry for us because the main electricity supply to the house had been tampered with.

“There are obvious dangers to anyone who knowingly diverts electricity from the main network system, and dangers could also surface at neighbouring properties.

“In the most extreme cases, we are aware electrical ‘booby trap’ devices have been set up in some properties where cannabis is being grown in an attempt to deter police or any other unwanted visitors.”

Anyone who believes they have information about drug use in the Telford area is asked to call police on 08457 444888.

By Lisa Rowley