A WATCHET man was arrested after police seized a "significant quantity" of dried cannabis and £3,000 in cash from a property in the town.

Officers swooped after acting on a tip-off which had earlier led them to a sophisticated cannabis factory in a former takeaway premises in Bridgwater.

They discovered 109 cannabis plants being grown with the help of specialist hydroponics equipment and fertiliser in a premises in Bridgwater High Street.

Police said the property's electricity supply had been "tampered with" in order to bypass the meter.

Further investigations then led officers to an address in Watchet where they arrested a 46-year-old man "from the area".

He was questioned and released on conditional bail pending further forensic investigations.

The police searches were part of a larger operation across the Avon and Somerset area to target cannabis factories through the ongoing Operation Viscount.

Officers are aiming to execute as many warrants as possible over the next few months in response to an increase in the number of large cannabis factories that have been uncovered by police across the UK.

Drug strategy manager Paul Bunt, who is running the operation, said: "We have launched this operation to disrupt and dismantle this type of criminal activity and send out a clear message that the cultivation or supply of drugs will not be tolerated in the Avon and Somerset force area."

Inspector Shane Carey added: "This was an excellent result and we are grateful to the public for supplying us with very pertinent information.

"We would encourage our local communities to keep talking to us.

"This was a significant amount of cannabis and we believe this seizure will have disrupted local drug dealing activities.

"If people have information regarding criminal activity in their area, they can either call their local police team on 0845 4567000, or report the crime on line by going to our website http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk">www.avonandsomerset.police.uk and selecting the 'contact us' section.

"Alternatively people can call the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."