POLICE in Minehead have seized 17 cannabis plants and growing equipment from a property in The Avenue in Minehead.

A warrant to search the property was carried out last Friday (November 14) at 10.20pm and a 25-year-old man has been cautioned.

The drugs and hydroponics – equipment to grow plants in mineral nutrients without soil – have been seized by the police and will be destroyed.

Nine of the plants were reaching maturity, meaning that they were almost ready to be harvested for recreational drug use, while the remaining eight were “young” and not ready for drug use.

Police were initially alerted about the problem by an anonymous tip off from Crimestoppers at the end of October and then followed up by building their own intelligence.

Crimestoppers is an independent charity that works by encouraging people to give information anonymously about crime and passing it on to the right law enforcement agencies.

Minehead beat manager PC Charlie Fitzpatrick said: “I’m delighted we were able to get this result through an anonymous tipoff from Crimestoppers.

“We also encourage anyone who does not want to call us on the 101 number if they have any information they want to report to contact Crimestoppers instead, either online or calling 0800 555111.”