POLICE with battering rams raided three properties in the same street – uncovering a cannabis factory in a bedsit.

More than 30 officers and a sniffer dog swooped on Grosvenor Terrace in the Bootham area of York shortly after 9am yesterday to execute the warrants.

On bursting into a bed-sit in one of the Victorian town houses, they discovered about 15 cannabis plants growing behind a screen in the corner, as well as several bags of what is believed to be the drug in its prepared form.

A 57-year-old man was later led from the property after being arrested on suspicion of production of a Class B drug and possession with intent to supply. He remains in custody.

Meanwhile, officers who stormed two other properties on the terraced street brought out another two suspects.

A 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply and remains in custody, while a 30-year-old man has been charged with possession of a Class B drug. He has been released on bail to appear at York magistrates’ court next month. Sergeant Martin Metcalfe, of Clifton safer neighbourhood team, who led the operation, said: “I believe they are all linked and we are very pleased with the result. My intention now is to get them evicted.”

He said the operation had gone to plan – although one officer had disturbed a wasps’ nest while searching one of the properties and was stung.

Police had to leave the property until pest control workers arrived.

Officers had been gathering intelligence for the past three or four months.

Sgt Metcalfe praised the local residents who helped them with their investigation.

He said: “Drugs will not be tolerated in Clifton and my message to the criminals is that we are going to come after you. We have executed at least 45 warrants in the past year and we will continue to act on information from the good, law-abiding residents.”

David Nicholson, chairman of the local Neighbourhood Watch, said: “Residents have been aware for quite a while that there has been some unusual activity going on in the street and we are very pleased at the way the police have acted.”

As well as cannabis, police also seized what is believed to be a quantity of amphetamine during the raids.