A third cannabis factory is being cleared out after a two day police operation at house in Church Road in Ramsgate.

More than 450 plants were found in rooms at numbers 20a and 20b, where walls had been knocked through to link the two houses, and at number 68b.

The three properties could have potentially provided a profit of more than £50,000 every 12 weeks, the propagation cycle of the plants.

Investigations are ongoing into whether the activities at the three properties are linked.

One kitchen, living rooms and bedrooms were found full of plants. The electrical meter had been bypassed.

Because of concerns for the safety of officers entering the premises, specialist teams from Kent Police were brought in to help execute a warrant, secured under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Working together on the operation from initial concerns about the houses have been neighbourhood and intelligence officers and detectives from Thanet, the force's tactical support group and its intelligence bureau and Kent Police's serious and organised crime unit

Sgt Dave Knox, who led the operation, said: "Organised crime groups use cannabis factories in order to fund other criminal activities.

"They generate significant sums of cash. To disrupt such operations is a county and a national priority."

Supt Chris Hogben, the area's deputy commander, said: "This is a very positive result and reflects the hard work of my neighbourhood and intelligence officers.

"There is a growing trend in relation to the rental of properties in order to cultivate drug crops."

Ngoc Bang Tran, 46, of Edinburgh Road, Plaistow, London, was arrested in Church Road.

He has been charged with being concerned in the production of cannabis. He is due to appear at Margate Magistrates Court on Friday.

The operation coincides with National Drugs Week. There will be both covert and high profile operations in the coming week to tackle drugs across east Kent.