A “sophisticated” cannabis factory containing £100,000 worth of illegal drugs, including nearly 100 plants, was raided by detectives in Telford today.

Officers descended on the terraced house in Solway Drive, Sutton Hill, at about 9.15am acting on information from the public and their own covert operations. A man in his mid- 20s was arrested at the property on suspicion of the production of the Class B drug.

Sergeant Louis Hylton, of West Mercia Police, who was leading the operation, said: “It’s a great find. The plants had a potential value of about £100,000.

“Upstairs in the house there were three rooms, of which two were rigged for growing cannabis plants.

“The third we suspect has been used and cannabis has been cultivated because there were bits of plants on the floor. In the first room there was in the region of 60 plants, which were about knee-high.

“In the second room there were probably about 30 plants, they were seedlings in the early stages of growth. It was a sophisticated operation with extractor fans set up.

“They had tampered with the electricity supply. We found large amounts of compost and growing material on an industrial scale.” About nine officers were involved in this morning’s raid.

“We held a briefing at Madeley Police Station at 9am before the raid at about 9.15am,” added Sergeant Hylton, who revealed that officers had been keeping an eye on the property.

“The reports came over several weeks and we have also been doing some covert work at the premises.

“Anything you see which is suspicious, pick up the phone and we will come out and investigate it, as we have in this case.

“If you don’t feel comfortable calling us directly then you can also speak to Crimestoppers.”

In March 2010 officers seized cannabis plants with a street value of more than £500,000 from another address in Sutton Hill.

By Paul Mannion