A cannabis factory with plants worth thousands of pounds has been discovered by police in Shropshire.

Officers raided premises at Cosford where nearly 300 plants were found being cultivated in an old henhouse.

A further search was conducted at a house in the Sedgley area of the West Midlands where more than 400 plants were found in a loft.

The two premises are linked.

Three people – two men and a woman – were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the production of Class B cannabis.

They were held in custody at Malinsgate police station in Telford after Thursday’s searches and were released on bail last night pending further inquiries.

Police also seized equipment and associated paraphernalia.

The plants at Cosford have since been destroyed.

Meanwhile, a man and a youth were arrested on suspicion of possession of illegal drugs after a warrant was executed at an address in Shrewsbury – just yards from the town police station.

Officers attended an address in Clive Road, Monkmoor, on Thursday.

An amount of what is believed to be cannabis bush was recovered, along with a number of unidentified pills.

A youth in his late teens was arrested and a man in his 40s attended the police station later in the evening.

Both were interviewed and released on police bail.