Five people have been charged after thousands of cannabis plants were found in a disused nightclub in Leysdown.

Officers attended the former Merlins entertainment complex in Leysdown Road on Friday where they found four separate rooms containing a total of more than 3,000 cannabis plants.

Allegations of modern slavery are also being investigated, with multiple arrests made. However, no charges have yet been brought while police inquiries continue.

The complex closed in January 2019 after a major refurb. It had once attracted bands and entertainers such as Doctor Hook, Jim Davidson, Jimmy Jones, Bobby Davro and Chas ‘n’ Dave.

Five men arrested at the scene have all been remanded in custody ahead of their appearance at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

They are Thomas Dunne, 69, and his son Tommy Dunne, 22, of Leysdown Road, Sheppey, both of whom have been charged with cultivating cannabis and abstraction of electricity.

Indrit Gaxhenji, 34, Oligert Alija, 19, and Arditi Hoxha, 18, all of no fixed address have also been charged with cultivating cannabis.

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