POLICE have made one of the biggest ever drug recoveries in Inverclyde after uncovering a massive cannabis farm within a former shop in Greenock town centre.

Officers, aided by assistance from the force helicopter, swooped on the former Poundstretchers in West Blackhall Street and recovered hundreds of plants and an array of hi-tech cultivation equipment.

The Tele understands the haul was spread over three levels of the building - with the drugs alone believed to have a street value of at least £1 million.

The shop was cordoned off by police, with officers guarding the doors to the back following the raid.

Chief Inspector Paul Cameron, who led the operation, says Friday's success will be deal a severe blow to the drug supply chain across Inverclyde.

He said: "This is a massive success that came as a result of excellent police work.

"It will cause major disruption to the drug dealing network here.

"We are still making the building safe and assessing the exact extent of what is inside, but I can say with some certainty from the information I have that this will be one of the largest and most significant drug recoveries the area has ever seen.

"I have said in this newspaper before that I will be relentless in my pursuit of those who involved in this heinous enterprise that ruins lives.

"This is another message to those dealing drugs that we will not rest until we take their evil trade off the streets of Inverclyde."

The Tele understands that the electricity supply to the former shop had been bypassed to allow the growing equipment to be powered undetected.

CI Cameron added: "The risk doing this poses to the public cannot be underestimated.

"It significantly increases the risk of fire and electrocution to other innocent residents living near to this area.

"Our first priority will be making the building safe.

"I have made a commitment to dismantle this illegal trade in Inverclyde and bring those responsible to justice - and I will follow through on that promise."

An onlooker said: "You could smell the cannabis right across the street once the doors were opened.

"It's unbelievable to think that the people behind this would be so brazen as to set up a drug factory right in the middle of the town centre."

Three men have been detained by police as a result of yesterday's swoop.

The latest raid comes just seven weeks after police dismantled an £82,000 cannabis farm that was discovered inside a rundown flat on West Blackhall Street after a tip off, pictured.

They also smashed their way into a Greenock drug den in Dempster Street last month and seized a 'significant' haul of what was believed to be a class A narcotic.

Four vanloads of riot officers swooped on the targeted address as part of a major intelligence-led operation.

Weapons — including axes — and thousands of pounds in cash were also found after police used powerful new door-breaking gear for the first time in Inverclyde.

A cannabis farm with an estimated street value of more than £100,000 was also found in MacDougall Street in the east end of Greenock in September.