A huge cannabis-growing operation was found by police inside a terraced house in Forest Gate on Thursday.

Officers from the Green Street Safer Neighbourhood Team executed a search warrant issued unfer Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act at an address on Ratcliff Road at approximately 5.25pm.

As police entered the mid-terrace property, they found around 240 cannabis plants distributed throughout the three bedrooms in the house and the two downstairs living rooms.

An eyewitness claims they saw a helicopter during the raid and young teens had been seen regularly entering the building.

But no occupants were found on the premises and no arrests have been made at this stage.

Police investigations continue.