Cannabis growing in every room

Inspector Dick Coates said 250 plants and equipment for growing the plants was found in every room of the flat in Dorset Road South.

Six officers from the Hastings and Rother Support Team executed a warrant to raid the address at 12.43pm on April 17.

Inspector Coates said the following day: "Two men were arrested and have been bailed.

"Cannabis and a quantity of what is believed to be a Class A drug were seized. The cannabis seized has a street value of about 450."

When the other material was analysed by a scientist, it was found to be 1,500 worth of a Class A drug, believed to be cocaine.

Inspector Coates said: "This was an excellent seizure as I am sure the drugs were destined for the Hastings and Rother market."

As a result of the discovery, police obtained another warrant and on Tuesday raided a property at Rotunda Road, Eastbourne where a second cannabis factory was discovered.

After the Eastbourne raid, Inspector Coates explained that the Dorset Road South flat had been rented but not occupied.

"A search was done at the home address of one of the two men arrested in Bexhill and it was found to be another cannabis factory."

Both men have been bailed while police process a large number of exhibits from both addresses, including timers, lights and other equipment.

Hydroponics is a system of "factory-producing" cannabis by growing it indoors under powerful heat lamps and with controlled irrigation.

In a major Bexhill seizure in a Colebrooke Road flat last year, officers responding to a call from a neighbour who suspected that a burglary was taking place found the entire roof space occupied by a hydroponics factory.