POLICE seized thousands of pounds worth of cannabis plants and equipment in an early morning raid yesterday.

Neighbours who had noticed a strange smell raised the alarm,and officers swooped on the terraced house, in Wesley Street, Willington, at 8am.

They are looking for two men, who are believed to rent the house, but were not at home.

The drugs farm occupied two bedrooms. Police and community support officers spent five hours moving the haul to Crook police station.

A total of 106 plants were taken. Police suspect many more plants had already been harvested. Cannabis plants are often worth about £1,000.

Sergeant Shaun Davis said: "This was a very sophisticated operation. Two upstairs bedrooms had their windows boarded up and had ventilation, lighting and watering systems.

"The equipment alone must have cost thousands of pounds. We also found a large package of cannabis leaves."

Last month, police arrested a man and a woman and seized 36 plants from a house in Cedar Crescent, Willington.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0845-6060-365.