A LARGE haul of cannabis was seized from a domestic grow after passing police community support officers (PCSOs) were tipped-off by the public.

Two PCSOs on patrol in Fencehouses, near Chester-le-Street, were alerted on Friday evening.

Sergeant Mel Sutherland, of Durham Police’s local neighbourhood team, based at Chester-le-Street, said an estimated £250,000-worth of cannabis, plus growing equipment, was seized from the address, in Gill Street North.

Sgt Sutherland said “This is an excellent find by our PCSOs and shows the value of neighbourhood policing.”

Commenting on the issue, on the Chester-le-Street Police Facebook page, Sgt Sutherland said: “I know this post will attract both positive and negative comments, as a small proportion of society feel we are wasting our time seizing cannabis.

“What I would say to those people is, firstly, with these types of substantial grows, we need to look at the wider picture and look to engage with the people who are trafficked into the country and forced to tend the grows.”

“Secondly, the generators and batteries give off an immense amount of heat and, on this occasion, have burnt the wooden boards the batteries were mounted on.”