A CANNABIS farm estimated to be worth more than half a million pounds was discovered by police in Wirral on Tuesday.

Neighbourhood officers were alerted to a disused community centre in Church Road in Birkenhead by a member of the public at around 1pm.

On arrival they discovered that entry to the building had been forced and that four rooms on the first and second floors had been used to grow a total of 635 cannabis plants in.

The force’s cannabis dismantling team was deployed to the scene and the electricity was made safe by the team’s embedded Scottish Power electrician to allow officers to search the entire building safely.

In one first floor room a total of 235 plants were found. In others there were around 100 .

As well as seizing the cannabis plants, which were in varying stages of growth, officers also seized a large amount of lighting, electrical and hydroponic equipment.

Birkenhead neighbourhood inspector, Duncan Swan, said the discovery was a success for the police and local community and a blow to the criminals responsible for setting the farm up.

He said: "This was a sophisticated cannabis farm set up on several floors of a large, disused community centre.

"To seize more than 600 cannabis plants which are each capable of producing hundreds of pounds of illegal drugs in every crop is a good result for us and the law-abiding members of the public.

"It means that these drugs cannot be sold to line the pockets of criminals who contribute nothing to our community and who instead bring violence and misery to the streets.

"Both my neighbourhood team and Merseyside Police as a whole is committed to doing every we can to tackle drug dealing and drug supply and information from the public remains vital.

"Cannabis farms can potentially be set up anywhere and there are usually tell-tale signs if there is one where you live.

"If you notice a strong pungent smell coming from a house or building near you, or see covered up windows or people coming and going at strange hours, please report it."

You can report any suspicions by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.