MORE than 500 cannabis plants with a suspected street value of more than a quarter-of-a- million pounds were seized yesterday from a house in Castlefield .

Police arrested a man during the raid on the three-bedroom house in Chiltern Avenue, High Wycombe, at around 10.20am yesterday. Officers allege that the house was being used as a cannabis factory'.

The estimated street value of the haul is £300,000 and plants were growing in every room except the bathroom and the sitting room.

Neighbourhood beat officer PC Maryam Jafari said: "Wycombe has a big problem with drugs. It is disproportionate to the size of the town.

"Tackling drugs was the community's second policing priority and in the past few weeks we have carried out several raids.

"We hope this sends out a strong message to the community that we are cracking down on selling and supplying and that we can and will act quickly on intelligence, backed up with evidence. And all our sources always remain anonymous."

Neighbours closed their windows and doors against the powerful fumes wafting down the street as six officers worked throughout the day to remove the plants and dismantle the specialist lighting and heating equipment.

A self-employed businessman and neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "It's fantastic they are finally doing something about it."

The 35-year-old father-of-five added: "I had heard there was a problem with drugs around here, but I never thought it would be so close to my home.

"I have been living here for 12 years with my family and anything they can do to make it safer is better for us.

"But I am glad the children are at school and I do not have to explain to them what is going on in the street."

Another neighbour said more raids wouldn't change anything. He said: "I'm not surprised, it's Castlefield."

To report a suspected drug crime contact police on 08458 505 505.

l A 22-year-old Vietnamese national has been arrested in connection with yesterday's raid.