Police have shut down a cannabis factory which was operating from a gated, detached house in a leafy part of Croydon.

Officers discovered more 1000 plants when they raided the house in West Hill.

Because the house was so large, the police had to get a dog to help them with their search and discovered two men hiding in the loft.

They were arrested for cannabis cultivation and diverting electricity to power their factory.

Officers discovered that the suspects had cut through the main electricity supply pipe direct from the road, abstracting over 500 amps of electricity.

The factory contained £20,000 worth of electrical and hydroponics equipment and over 1000 cannabis plants, of which approx 800 were ready to harvest. In the loft there was a significant amount of harvested plant being processed.

Police Sergeant Phil Clifton said: “Thanks to the prompt action of PC Mutti and PC Parker, a large drugs factory has been taken out of action and resulted in the charge and remand of two people. We will always look to act on information received from the public and I would ask any residents who have concerns about crime in the area to contact us.”

Traung Pham, 18, of no fixed abode and Hoa Van Tran, 41, no fixed abode, appeared in custody at Croydon Magistrates Court on February 7 charged with cultivation of cannabis and abstracting electricity. They both pleaded guilty and have been remanded in custody to appear at Croydon Crown Court for sentencing.