by James Scott

A cannabis factory capable of producing up to £3million of drugs a year has been uncovered.

Around 50 police officers were involved in a dawn raid at a bungalow in Hastingleigh, near Wye, this morning.

More than 500 cannabis plants were found in a 10m by 30m outbuilding to the rear of the property, alongside two identical office buildings being converted to grow further plants.

The factory, in Coldharbour Lane, had been divided into a dozen rooms with extensive insulation and advanced heating, lighting and ventilation systems set to timers.

DCI Paul Fotheringham said: "This is sophisticated as it can get. They would be cropping a quarter of a million pounds monthly. It could be worth as much as £3 million per year.

"Hopefully we've prevented the first crop from going out."

The raid was one of eight warrants being carried out by Kent Police today.

Officers seized an Aston Martin car worth about £40,000 at Burlington Drive, in Beltinge, near Herne Bay, under the Proceeds of Crime Act as well as computers, mobile phones and £4,000 cash.

Four people were arrested - two men aged 38 and 48 from Margate, a 40-year-old woman from Herne Bay and a 35-year-old man from Ashford.