Police have discovered a cannabis factory - housing more than 150 plants worth about £50,000 - at a home in Handforth.

Acting on information received from residents, officers swooped on the house between 5pm and 7pm on Monday.

They were confronted with an indoor drug farm crammed with cannabis bushes from saplings to fully fledged plants that were all nurtured under a network of heat lamps.

The plants were removed from the house by three officers to be destroyed. They are still trying to track down the culprits, who were poised to seize a fortune from their harvested plants.

Sergeant Simon Mills, from Wilmslow Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: "No arrests were made and no one was living in the property.

"We are still investigating and making inquiries."

Neighbours along the quiet street expressed shock that a cannabis factory was operating in their midst.

Even officers said they were stunned by the size of the operation on the small Handforth street.

The plant growing equipment, worth hundreds of pounds, was donated to a local school for use in their greenhouse.

Officers say people need to be aware that cannabis farms exist and are asking anyone who thinks a house or commercial property in their neighbourhood is being used for this purpose to get in touch with them.

They also want to warn landlords to make sure they know who they are letting property to and what they are using that property for.

If you have any information on drugs activities, call Wilmslow police on 0845 458 0000, or you can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.