A DRUGS raid in Ledbury last Saturday was part of a cross-border operation headed by Worcestershire police.

The Ledbury raid, at Golding Way, led to a large number of plants being seized and "the destruction of equipment" by police, at what is being called "a cannabis grow".

A local resident reported that "on Saturday evening (March 21) a large number of police vehicles and officers raided a house in Golding Way and took away a lot of items".

There were six arrests in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, related to "cannabis grows", and police say that all the addresses where drugs were found are being linked.

Police are also not ruling out further arrests.

Nine addresses were searched in Worcestershire, including one in Gloucester Road, Welland, before the spotlight turned to Ledbury, and the South Worcestershire Proactive CID crossed the border into Herefordshire.

Detective Constable Laurence James, of Herefordshire CID, confirmed that "Worcester officers are dealing with all offences".

A police spokesman said that all the addresses with cannabis grows were being linked in the investigation.

The spokesman said: "South Worcestershire Proactive CID arrested five persons for cannabis cultivation. After nine address searches they located a cannabis grow at Gloucester Rd, Welland.

"Following further enquiries a commercial cannabis grow was then found at Golding Way, Ledbury where a large number of plants were found and equipment destroyed."

That was not the end of local arrests.

The police spokesman added: "Another male was arrested on Sunday after a third commercial cannabis grow was found in Malvern. The addresses were all linked and there may yet be more arrests."

Following the raids, police are urging property owners with tenants to make regular checks.

The police spokesman said: "If you own a property you rent out, check it regularly as cannabis growers rent houses legally and cause huge damage installing equipment."

Police are also calling for the help of the general public in the crackdown.

Anyone with suspicions about a house possibly be used as a cannabis grow should report the suspicions anonymously on 101 or ring crime stoppers on 0800 555111.