TWO people have been arrested after cannabis plants and growing equipment were seized by police in a raid on a house in Selby.

Police officers executed the warrant, under the Misuse Of Drugs Act, on The Chimes, in Flaxley Road, at about 2pm on Thursday, and found a “professional and sophisticated” operation of cannabis being cultivated in the property. It was one of two cannabis raids in the Selby area that day.

The raid in Flaxley Road followed a request from Southampton police after a man they were hunting was arrested in Northumbria on suspicion of the theft of metal.

Officers searched the premises and seized about 24 cannabis plants being grown in the loft of the property.

A man, aged 32, was arrested in Northumbria before being transported to York, on suspicion of producing a Class B drug.

A woman, aged 30, was also arrested on suspicion of producing a Class B drug and has now been released on bail to allow for further police inquiries.

PC Steve Armitage, of the Selby Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This is a great example of how police forces across the country work together to tackle and reduce the numbers of crimes of all types.

“The cannabis grow we discovered was clearly a professional and sophisticated operation.

“However, I believe that this was the first crop being grown and we have prevented the drugs being distributed. I urge anyone who has information about people involved in any form of criminal activity to report it to the police immediately.”

Officers also discovered cannabis at a property in The Maltings area of Selby at about 9pm on Thursday. Police said firefighters had forced entry into the house after a reported water leak and discovered a quantity of the drug.

An 18-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the incident.