POLICE have recovered a quarter of a million pounds worth of drugs following an intelligence-led operation in Nibley near Yate.

At around 9am yesterday officers from the Chipping Sodbury Neighbourhood Policing Team executed a warrant under the Misuse of Drugs Act in premises on the outskirts of the town.

Police found a sophisticated hydroponics system in a farm building and approximately 1,400 cannabis plants were seized which have a potential street value when harvested of around £250,000.

Neighbourhood Policing sergeant Andy McIlrath said: "This warrant was executed as a result of intelligence received. We are determined to disrupt the supply of illegal drugs and will always follow up any intelligence about the production and supply of controlled drugs.

"The quantity of cannabis which was being produced form this address would have had a significant impact on not only the local drugs market but potentially also the surrounding area due to the very large quantity that was being produced."

* A 28-year-old man was arrested and is currently on police bail to allow time for the forensic examination of the plants and for further investigations by the district CID.