POLICE uncovered an £800,000 drugs factory in a raid on a three-storey property in Alcombe last week.

One man was arrested on suspicion of drug and immigration offences and 806 cannabis plants and specialist growing equipment were seized.

Local officers were initially alerted by nearby residents who reported a strong smell of cannabis from 43 Alcombe Road.

When police went to investigate on Wednesday a man jumped out of a first floor window and tried to run away.

He was arrested and officers found cannabis plants spread across three floors of the property.

They were being grown using specialist hydroponic equipment and some of the drugs had already been packed ready to be sold.

Officers had to call in Western Power to ensure the property was safe after discovering an electricity meter had been bypassed.

Crime scene investigators were called in on Thursday to continue the investigation.

An Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesman said 806 plants had been seized, each with an estimated value of between £1,000 and £3,000.

A 35 year-old Vietnamese national was arrested on suspicion of production of cannabis and various immigration offences and is currently in custody at Bridgwater.

PC Charlie Fitzpatrick, from Minehead police station, said: “This has been a significant seizure for this area.

“We have seen cannabis factories such as this in other areas of the force.

“The people who set-up and run these properties often use illegal immigrants as ’gardeners’, forcing them to live and work in awful conditions as modern slaves.

“We won’t tolerate either drug dealing, drug production or indeed any kind of modern slavery that sees vulnerable people exploited through fear of deportation.

“I would like to thank the members of the public who informed us of the suspected criminal activity. I hope this demonstrates once again, that we do listen and we will take action.”

Anyone with any information about the cannabis factory should contact the police on the non emergency 101 number.