PEOPLE have shared their shock after £500,000 worth of cannabis was found in an old bank building in the town centre. 

Officers in Kidderminster raided the old Royal Bank of Scotland site on Worcester street in the early hours of Monday (November 25). 

The warrant was carried out after concerns were raised about the smell of cannabis coming from the building. 650 cannabis plants were seized and two arrests have been made. 
Businesses on Worcester Street have reacted to the raid. 

Chris Arkell, manager of Regenerate, the second-hand shop next door, said: "It's shocking, that's the best way to describe it. 

"It was shock getting here this morning, seeing everything going on. 

"It's not something you expect to see first thing in the morning". 

Adam Buick, who runs Kidderminster Escape Rooms which opened in April, said he was "shocked" at the drugs bust and said he initially looked at opening his business at the vacant site. 

Mr Buick said: "I'm absolutely shocked. Ironically that's a unit that we originally looked at. 

"We were excited about something new coming to Worcester Street - not a cannabis farm. 

"Worcester Street we feel every month is improving. It's on the way up so to hear this is shocking. 

"Kidderminster has so much potential, it doesn't need this sort of thing". 

The cannabis plants uncovered by policeThe cannabis plants uncovered by police (Image: West Mercia Police)

Kidderminster BID leader James Barker said: "I think it was a shock to everyone but it's another sign that the new hotspot policing is starting to make a difference. 

"I know there's been some growing concerns in the area".

Mr Barker says he hopes the knock-on effect of the warrant will deter similar crime in the town centre.

Detective Sergeant Kirsty Hill, from the North Worcestershire County Lines team, said: “This is a fantastic result which has seen us remove a significant quantity of cannabis from the streets.

“This was a sophisticated operation with specialist lighting and ventilation systems to maximise the number of class B drugs that could be cultivated. 

“These grows are often linked to serious and organised crime groups, human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable people, and can present significant fire safety risks to the people in the surrounding area.

“This warrant sends a clear message, that we will not tolerate criminal activity within our communities, and we will act upon information provided by members of the public.”