CANNABIS plants worth thousands of pounds have been seized by police who raided a house in Bishop Auckland this morning. (Friday, May 15)

Plants worth an estimated £4,000 were recovered from a two bedroom private property, in Helena Terrace, where a warrant was executed at about 8am.

Officers discovered the cannabis growing operation upstairs.

A 44-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of cultivating cannabis.

He was interviewed at Bishop Auckland police station and has since been released after receiving a police caution.

Cleveland and Durham road policing unit led the operation which was captured by a television crew filming Channel 5's Police Interceptors.

The series is expected to be aired in late summer or early autumn.