FOUR people have been arrested after police swooped on a disused car showroom and discovered what is believed to be a cannabis factory.

More than 100 plants were found growing at the North Yorkshire showroom after a local police officer became suspicious about the site.

As well as the plants on a lower floor of the premises on Harrogate Road at Ferrensby, near Knaresborough, police also found equipment commonly used in the production of cannabis.

The factory was discovered on Tuesday, April 28, and a 36-year-old man from Leeds was arrested at the scene on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis while two other men, aged 24 and 30, were arrested in Plompton, some six miles away, a short time later.

All three men have been released on police bail to allow for further enquiries.

A fourth man was arrested in Harrogate today, April 29, and he remains in police custody for questioning.

Detective Inspector Phil Coward said: “Drugs cause untold harm in our communities and by discovering operations like this it prevents more illegal substances from getting onto the streets.

“The fight against drugs is a difficult and ongoing campaign but one which we can make progress on with the help of the public.”

He added: “Community intelligence has proved to be very useful to us in the past as local residents know what is going on where they live and I would like to appeal to people to continue providing us with information about drugs in their area.”

Anyone with information about drugs in their community should contact police on 101, select option one and speak to the force control room.

Alternatively Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800-555-111.