Two people have been arrested and hundreds of cannabis plants seized after a raid at a property in Oldham.

Police stormed an address in Hollins this morning (Tuesday) and discovered more than 400 mature cannabis plants.

Two men, aged 24 and 25, have been arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis and remain in police custody for questioning.

Chief Superintendent Phil Hutchinson of GMP’s Oldham District said the arrests have “weakened” crime networks in both Oldham and the wider Greater Manchester area.

He said: "Cannabis-related crime can be misconstrued as being a 'low level', but there are underlying serious and organised networks that are running these enterprises, and this is just one aspect of their criminal businesses – which often funds violence on our streets and blights our communities.

"The action this morning has not only been able to disrupt criminal operations, but this is organised criminality controlling the grows, so the activity today has weakened the crime networks in both Oldham and the wider Greater Manchester area.

“I would like to thank the members of the public who have reported their suspicions to us through Crimestoppers.

“I hope the action today shows that we will act on information submitted to us as we seek to keep our communities safe, to help us, we want the public to continue reporting their concerns, it may be the final piece of the intelligence jigsaw that we need.

“In the last seven days alone, officers from Operation Challenger and neighbourhood teams have recovered cannabis with an estimates street value of £1.2million, and we will continue to take the fight to criminals and disrupting organised criminality.”

Anyone with concerns about crime in their neighbourhood can report to the police by calling 101 or using the ‘LiveChat’ facility on the GMP website at gmp.police.uk.

Alternatively, the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.