Pc Warren Potter and Pc Will Rogers-Overy

MARIJUANA plants with a street value of £100,000 were uncovered after a pair of Pcs used their noses, in Hatfield.

The “large scale” cannabis factory was discovered after officers from the Hatfield Safer Neighbourhood Team sniffed out the drug while on a “proactive patrol” in the area.

Pc Will Rogers-Overy and Pc Warren Potter were doing the rounds in Shallcross Crescent on January 18, when they sensed the pungent smell.

Pc Rogers-Overy said: “We noticed a strong smell of cannabis in the air.

“We followed the smell to an area of Shallcross Crescent and after conducting enquiries, we were able to identify the house it was coming from and take steps to obtain a search warrant for the property, which was conducted just two days later.”

Officers then raided the premises on January 20.

Inside the drug den they found more than 380 cannabis plants.

They have since been removed from the property and will be destroyed.

Chief inspector for Welwyn Hatfield, Fiona Gaskell, said: “Whilst enquiries are on-going to identify the offenders, this discovery resulted in a substantial quantity of drugs removed from circulation.

“I am confident that local residents would have smelt this and not realised that they could contact police confidentially with this information.

“I would advise anyone who has any information about drug dealing, where it is happening and who is involved, or know anything else that may help us tackle drug crime, to call police via the non-emergency number, 101, so we can take appropriate action.

“Your small piece of information could help make a difference.”

Informants can also fill out a secure online form anonymously, which does not give police computer or email details at www.herts.police.uk under Operation Crystal.