POLICE seized 150 cannabis plants during a raid on an Accrington drugs factory.

Ant today they warned they are stepping up their purge on drug dealers in the town and will be conducting regular raids acting on information from the community.

The plants were recovered from a house police say was being used as a 'cultivation factory'.

They had been grown under an ultra violet light in the bathroom of the house, in Exchange Street, and some stood more than five feet tall.

Nobody was at home at the time of the raid at around 1.30pm on Friday but police say they are hopeful of making an arrest.

Some 10 officers and two drug sniffer dogs were deployed during the raid.

An upstairs 'drying room' was also found, with plants hanging on lines from the ceiling, and fans were being used to ventilate the property when the armed police and dogs searched the address.

Sergeant Claire Holbrook of Accrington police said: "It is important that the public understand that cannabis is still very much illegal and we will take action to prosecute offenders who blatantly disregard the law. This is a substantial seizure of cannabis grown covertly in a dwelling around unsuspecting neighbours.

"I would urge anybody with information relating to drug misuse to contact the police. All information is investigated and, where possible, acted upon."

During another raid, at a house in Canal Street, Accrington, on Saturday police arrested two men and seized cannabis resin worth £1,350 and white powder believed to be amphetamines, worth £30.

The men were bailed pending analysis on the resin and powder.

Sgt Holbrook said: "This warrant is one of several we intend to execute over the next few weeks.

"Dealers should realise their activity will not be tolerated in this town."