A RAID on a cannabis farm in Prudhoe was the latest operation in Northumbria Police's battle against drug growing in the region.

An investigation was launched after police found the grow at a property on West Wylam Drive in an early morning raid last week.

Officers were originally alerted to a burglary and discovered a cannabis farm instead.

Gordon Stewart, county councillor for Prudhoe South, said: "Drug use destroys individuals, families and the wider community, putting cash into the hands of criminals.

"This positive and proactive action is another example of how such illegal activities will not be tolerated, this has come about after members of the public raised their concern with the police."

The Prudhoe operation is the latest in a series of raids the force has carried out on cannabis farms over the past year.

In December, police were called to a Ponteland address after receiving information that it was being used as a suspected cannabis farm.

A few months earlier, a large-scale cannabis farm was found inside an old church in Gateshead, with 350 plants worth around £350,000.

Neighbourhood Inspector Kate Benson, of Northumbria Police, said: “As a force, we are committed to tackling serious crime through a range of activity.

“By continuing to seize and destroy harmful drugs, we are taking away the money organised criminals rely on to fund their illegal activity, and this is one of our most efficient tools.

“People may think cannabis is a harmless substance, but it is an illegal drug being sold by criminals who think nothing of exploiting and abusing the vulnerable, using violence to get what they want, and flouting the law – and the ripple effects of this activity can cause real harm in our communities.

“I hope the community sees our continued activity to prevent drug dealing and the wider harm it causes – and that they keep working with us by sharing information and reporting suspicious activity to us, so we can act on it.

"If you need for piece also – suspicious activity can be reported to police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101. In an emergency, or where a crime is taking place, always dial 999."