More than £1m cannabis seized

More thank £1million of illegal drugs have been taken off the streets after police raided a former steakhouse yesterday.

Officers from the Seaham Neighbourhood Team carried out the raid at what was previously The Ranch, in Stockton Road, where they discovered more 1,600 cannabis plants.

A man was also found hiding in the loft and arrested. He was taken into custody and charged with producing cannabis after Peterlee CID worked into the night.

A 37-year-old appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court today charged with one count of being concerned in the production of a controlled drug.

No plea was entered and the defendant was remanded into custody until his next expected appearance at Durham Crown Court on January 14.

TDC Georgia Hansen, of Peterlee CID, said: "We know drugs ruin lives and have a profound effect on our communities which is why both neighbourhood officers and detectives worked together into the night to secure a charge in this case and put the suspect before the court.

"The seized drugs will now be destroyed and we would urge anyone with concerns around drug cultivation in their community to report it."