Drugs factory discovered under former bar

An "industrial-sized drugs factory" discovered under a former bar has been shut down, police said.

Northumbria Police raided the premises on Ocean Road, South Shields, on Friday and dismantled the farm over the weekend.

The "sophisticated set-up", made up of more than 1,300 plants across three floors, was valued at £700,000 and seized, police said.

The force added officers were tipped off by locals who reported a strong smell coming from the building, and were now working to find anyone involved.

Officers said the electricity had been bypassed inside the building, which had since been made safe.

Insp David Heron said the Neighbourhood Support Team had found a number of cannabis farms in South Tyneside over the last few months, but "this one is without doubt the largest".

"We'd ask the public to continue to help be our eyes and ears to this type of criminality," he said.

"We'd especially ask landlords to be extra vigilant with who might be renting or using their units and premises."

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