There has been a huge increase in the amount of cannabis seized by police in Cambridgeshire in the last year.

Cambs Times: Hundreds of plants were discovered at a cannabis factory, in Regal Lane, Soham, in 2014.Hundreds of plants were discovered at a cannabis factory, in Regal Lane, Soham, in 2014. (Image: Archant)

Figures released by insurer Direct Line showed that there was a 110 per cent rise in the number of cannabis plants seized by officers across the county in 2014.

Only West Mercia saw a larger increase, with a 195 per cent rise reported.

Throughout the UK in 2014, 456,911 cannabis plants were seized by police, with only one plant recorded as being seized by border controls.

According to the data, the largest number of seizures were made by the Metropolitan Police, who confiscated 59,002 plants.

While overall, the number of plants seized dropped by 10 per cent between 2013-14, in about a third of police areas there was, on average, a 40 per cent rise.

In Bedfordshire, however, the police force saw a 95 per cent drop in cannabis plant seizure and Suffolk saw an 83 per cent drop.

Direct Line has warned landlords of the possible threats cannabis farms could pose to their properties, including structural damage and clean-up costs if one is set up by tenants.

Jane Guaschi, business manager at Direct Line for Business, said: “The consequences of a cannabis farm on a landlord’s property can be financially catastrophic.

“Landlords could face loss of rent and the stress of the legal wrangling during periods of repair or eviction.”