AN abandoned cannabis factory has been discovered in a rented Exmouth town centre house, the police have revealed. Some six months after 300 cannabis plants were discovered growing in flat in Madeira Villas, police stormed a four-bedroom home in Victoria

AN abandoned cannabis factory has been discovered in a rented Exmouth town centre house, the police have revealed.

Some six months after 300 cannabis plants were discovered growing in flat in Madeira Villas, police stormed a four-bedroom home in Victoria Road after the landlord found the property had been used as a drug factory.

Police inquiries are continuing and officers are keen to trace a South East Asian man who rented the property.

The police swoop was made after the landlord noticed the rent on the property was in arrears.

Until then, the rent had been paid a year in advance, officers said.

When the landlord visited the property, he found the locks had been changed and was unable to gain access.

Forcing entry, he discovered a haul of around 500 pots, which had been used to grow cannabis plants.

The plant leaves had been removed and just an inch of stalk remained in each pot.

The whole house had been turned over to the cultivation of the plants - loft space had been used to house 220 smaller plants.

Windows had been blacked out using thick plastic, which had been nailed to the walls to prevent any curtain movement.

The police said debris and rubbish left in the kitchen and bathroom suggested someone had lived among the plants.

The property's electricity meter had been by-passed and the wires removed.

Timers to operate cultivation equipment had been installed and thick, grey electrical wire trailed from room to room.

Extractor fans and other methods were used to disguise the smell of the drugs, the police said.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "There were chemicals by the front door. Instead of smelling cannabis, you could smell paint or moth balls.

"It was an elaborate set-up and clearly a very well planned operation.