POLICE have recovered more than 800 plants at a cannabis farm in Wallasey. 

The cannabis farm discovered today following an execution of a warrant at a property in King Street would have an estimated annual yield of around £3.5m.

Growing in four rooms the plants were recovered alongside growing equipment.

A quantity of dried cannabis in bags was also found at the scene and the electricity had been illegally bypassed.

The scene was secured to enable officers to recover the cannabis and forensically examine the scene.

Sergeant Chris Bland said: "Every single cannabis farm seized, especially a large farm such as this, marks a significant step in our efforts to disrupt the activities of criminals growing cannabis in Merseyside.

"Cannabis cultivation by criminal gangs brings misery to our communities as we know criminal groups involved in the cultivation of cannabis are usually involved in other serious and often violent organised crime.

"This cannabis farm was on a busy street of shops and flats and the growing of cannabis threatens the safety of neighbouring properties because cannabis farms are a serious fire risk.

"Electricity and water are never a good combination, and fires have been caused by the crude systems put in place by the people who set up these farms.

"Our communities can help us stop these groups, who are only interested in making money, from turning houses and flats into potential death traps.

"Nobody wants to live next door to these houses and we would ask that if you believe someone is using a property for this purpose, please tell us so we can take positive action and find those responsible for setting them up."

Anyone with information can call police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.