A police raid in the early hours of yesterday morning has uncovered a million-pound cannabis factory operating from a two-bedroom house.

Hounslow Drugs Squad swooped on a residential property in Great South-West Road, and seized more than 500 cannabis plants from the house, which had the facilities and capability to produce huge quantities of marijuana.

Three lorries were needed to confiscate the equipment and bin bags full of cannabis plants from the rented semi-detached house.

No one was living permanently at the property, but neighbours had become aware of strange comings and goings.

PC Forrester, who was co-ordinating the removal of the plants yesterday evening, said: "It looks like a completely normal house from the outside, but inside they've got a sophisticated network of ventilation pipes, energy converters and heat lamps.

"The windows are sealed and the heat and fumes are often pumped out of the chimney.

"People need to be on the look out for houses that constantly have the curtains shut, and obviously the smell of cannabis is a bit of a give away."

A local resident said: "It's turned into a right den of corruption around here.

"The drug problem has got much worse with cars coming and going late at night, and burglaries happen all the time.

"The people that come in and out of the house are mainly Asian. They had only been there two or three months and always kept themselves to themselves during the day. But there was loads of activity at night and you would see them bringing car-loads of big black bags and suitcases."

Detective Inspector Jeff Minns said: "Our thermal imaging reveals properties that produce an excessive amount of heat, but a lot of the intelligence comes from residents."

If you have any information contact Hounslow police on 020 8247 6160.