POLICE seized cannabis plants with a street value of £40,000 during a raid in Selby.

The raid took place at 12.30pm yesterday in Carr Street, near the former Cochrane’s shipyard, and involved six police officers and the fire service, who used cutting gear to break through the heavy duty locks used to secure the building.

Once inside the building, described by police as commercial premises, officers found 86 mature plants of skunk – a potent form of cannabis.

Insp Rich Abbott, of Selby police, who was in charge of the operation, said: “We found a large shipping container which was full to the gunnels with cannabis plants.

“It was a professional growing set-up with lighting and ventilation. It took most of the afternoon to clear it.”

He said forensic experts spent the day gathering evidence from the site and that the raid had come from a tip-off that officers had followed up. No one was in the building when it was raided, but inquiries are now under way to find the people who set up the operation.

Insp Abbott said: “We will continue to investigate these offences and we appreciate the public’s assistance with information regarding the locations of such cannabis farms.

“The message is a simple one: if you commit crime in the Selby district you can expect us to call on you. When we do our aim will be to prosecute with the full weight of the law behind us.”

Anyone who has information regarding the cannabis factory, or anyone who witnessed people coming and going from the site, is asked to phone Selby police on 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.