A "substantial" cannabis factory has been discovered inside a former Gala Bingo hall in a Northamptonshire town centre.

Following a joint effort between police, local authorities and members of the public, officers discovered the "full house" in Kettering, which they believe is worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Northamptonshire Police's Sergeant Sean Marshall warned against others attempting to set up such "criminally audacious" cannabis farms and urged the public to remain vigilant.

Image: Officers discovered the 'full house' at a former bingo hall

Today Northants Police uncovered a large-scale cannabis factory in the former #GalaBingo building in #Kettering town centre. This video shows the scale of the operation and Kettering Sgt Sean Marshall provides more details about this morning's raid. pic.twitter.com/KcBWP5ZvUg — Northants Police (@NorthantsPolice) June 14, 2019

"The whole of the Gala Bingo hall and main building is just full of thousands of plants," he said. "Early indications are that there are at least a couple of thousand and that would translate into a yield of about three quarters of a million pounds.

"Each plant is good for about three or four yields as well, so that's a lot of profit and a lot of money.


"This is quite a criminally audacious setup that we've got here, especially in the middle of Kettering town centre."

Police have since destroyed all of the plants they discovered.

Image: Officers say each plant is 'good for about three or four yields'. Pic: Twitter/NorthantsPolice

Sergeant Marshall said: "The size of the building and just the amount of work, the organised effort and work that's gone into setting it up - you can try it and yeah you might think you can get away with it, but we will eventually catch up with you and we will do what have done today."

He said all the equipment being used was also destroyed and that a forensic team was gathering evidence.

We have today discovered a substantial cannabis factory in the former Gala Bingo in #Kettering. Officers will be at the scene throughout the day dismantling the set up. pic.twitter.com/lSsfMXpPsO — Northants Police (@NorthantsPolice) June 14, 2019

"The people who make the money from this don't normally get their hands dirty, it's normally vulnerable people that they target to actually set up the place and keep it running," the officer said.

"Many people may have walked through the town centre, thinking they've walked past somebody who's been smoking a joint or thought there might be something bigger elsewhere.

"All I would say is, if you've got any information or any suspicions of criminal behaviour or activity please report it to the police."