POLICE stumbled across one of their biggest cannabis factory finds after neighbours raised the alarm about suspected burglars.

Officers were called to an industrial unit in Rayleigh Road, Benfleet, following reports it was being raided by thieves.

They found nothing untoward and left the scene, but returned hours later after a group of men were seen to be acting suspiciously.

When the Castle Point community policing team arrived at the scene, close to HMS Plant and Tool Hire, at about 5pm on Tuesday four men were seen running into an outbuilding.

They hid but were promptly arrested when officers found approximately 200 cannabis plants inside.

Insp Fergus Caulfield said the drugs had a street value of about £90,000.

He said: “We have now bagged up a lot of the plants to clear the place up but we filled six bags full of cannabis plants.

“It’s up there with one of the biggest cannabis grows that we have come across in the area.

“It was a well-established and professional grow.

“Some of the plants are not fully grown, but we estimate that if they had been sold on fully grown it would have been worth £90,000.

“It is a great result for our team that we have come across this operation.”

Four men were arrested in connection with the cannabis find.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Officers attended at the site in Rayleigh Road, Benfleet, just before 5pm on Tuesday and discovered around 200 cannabis plants.

“Four men were arrested on suspicion of drugs production and taken to Grays Police Station to be questioned.

“A 32 year-old man from Leigh and an 18-year-old man from Canvey have been released on bail until December 20.

“A 28 year-old man from Stanford-le-Hope and a 31 year-old man from Leigh remain in police custody.”

The bust comes just days after the community policing team carried out a warrant at a house in London Road, Benfleet, following a tip-off from neighbours about drug activity.

A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of class B drugs and was handed a £90 on-the-spot fine without being taken into custody.

He will have 21 days to pay up.

Drugs squad Operation Raptor was set up earlier this year to stop check vehicles and carry out warrants to tackle drug dealing gangs and users.

The officers rely on intelligence from members of the pubic and urge people to contact them with any reports of suspicious activity.

Anyone with information can call the Operation Raptor team at Essex Police on 101. Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org