OFFICERS who stopped and searched a car in Cornwall started a small chain reaction in West Devon last week.

Police stopped a Volkswagen Caddy on the A38 on October 14. Having seized a quantity of cannabis and several thousand pounds in cash from the people in the car, the officers realised that the drug had been recently harvested.

The two men in the vehicle, aged 34 and 50, were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply cannabis and suspicion of money laundering.

They set about organising searches of the homes of the two men, one of whom lives in Lifton and the other in Lewdown.

At both addresses officers uncovered cannabis plants and equipment used to grow cannabis. At one address an entire outbuilding had been dedicated to growing cannabis plants, complete with its own water supply and lighting. At the other, one room of a house had been adapted for the same purpose.

Three local men are on bail until February 4, while further enquiries are made. Anyone with information relating to this incident can contact police on 101, quoting crime reference number CR/114823/14.