A large cannabis farm consisting of 56 plants was found and destroyed by officers in St Albans district yesterday.

After receiving a call from a member of the public, the St Albans and London Colney Safer Neighbourhood Team found the cannabis factory in Sandrige’s Heartwood Forest.

Police tweeted: “It is not the type of gardening we expected to see since the garden centres reopened.”

A police spokeswoman added: “Police were contacted on Monday July 13, after a member of the public came across a number of suspected cannabis plants being grown in a wooded area near Jersey Farm.

“Officers attended and discovered 56 plants growing in a clearing.

“The plants were seized, along with a number of tools. Enquiries are continuing at this time.”