POLICE uncovered a huge and 'highly-sophisticated' cannabis factory at a disused industrial unit after attending what they thought was a burglary.

Officers responded to an emergency call from a security guard at a nearby unit on Cheney Manor Industrial Estate late last night but when they arrived they found the site packed with more than 1,000 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of more than £500,000.

Police are appealing for witnesses and Detective Sergeant Joe Saunders said: "This was a sophisticated set-up and it will take a lot of time to analyse and investigate. 

"We would like to hear from anybody who knows anything about the activity at the site."

The unit lies in between Flextronics and Anything Stone, who are not associated with the incident, and has been cordoned off by police as forensic teams work to secure evidence.

Anyone with any information should contact DC Yvonne Ridge on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.