THE county's biggest cannabis factory was discovered last night in a nuclear bunker after police carried out a midnight raid. 

The raid in Chilmark uncovered thousands of cannabis plants - valued at more than £1 million - in the underground bunker at RGHQ Chilmark.

Although the site is no longer owned by the Ministry of Defence, the bunker is still intact and the nuclear blast doors are still in place.

Salisbury Journal:

With the knowledge that the bunker was almost completely impenetrable, officers waited outside for three people to leave and detained them, using their keys to gain entry.

Once inside, officers found three more people, believed to be the gardeners, along with several thousand cannabis plants.

The three men aged 15, 19 and 37, of no fixed address were taken to Melksham Police Station.

The three men caught leaving the bunker aged 27, 30 and 45, were all from Somerset, and were arrested on suspicion of cannabis production and human trafficking offences.

Detective Inspector Paul Franklin said that there were 20 rooms in the building, split over two floors.

Salisbury Journal:

"Almost every room had been converted for the wholesale production of cannabis plants, and there was a large amount of evidence of previous crops. This was an enormous set up.

“At this early stage of the investigation it is almost impossible to work out how many plants are inside, but we are talking thousands rather than hundreds and we would estimate the value of the crop at over £1 million.

"I am convinced it is one of the largest crops ever discovered in Wiltshire.

"The actions of officers last night took a large amount of planning and teamwork, and I am very pleased that it has been so successful."

To report suspected drug activity call 101.