COMPLAINTS about the 'strong smell of cannabis' in a neighbourhood led to police discovering a farm cultivating the drug nearby.

The cannabis farm in the Burn Valley area of Hartlepool was raided by police yesterday, Thursday, and growing plants as well as bags of harvested cannabis were seized.

People had complained about the strong smell in the area, leading to a raid on the property on Colwyn Road.

Sergeant Ian Raine of Hartlepool Community Safety Team said "A number of people came forward from our local community expressing concerns over the strong smell of cannabis in the area and how this was having a negative effect on their quality of life.

"They also raised concerns for the potential increase in anti social behaviour and crime linked to it as there are a number of vulnerable residents living in the locality. As a result officers attended an address in Colwyn Road and located a small yet well set up cannabis farm. This action shows that we will listen to our communities and also act upon the information they provide and I encourage them to keep on doing so".

A woman has been charged in connection with the offence.

Anyone with information about drug issues in their area can call police on 101.