TWO people were arrested in Staverton yesterday after a small cannabis factory was discovered at a house.

Officers from Team 4 Trowbridge Community Policing Team and officers from Trowbridge CID, attended an address in Blease Close yesterday morning and arrested a woman on suspicion of identity theft and fraud offences.

The arrest followed reports that the woman had been using another person’s personal details to apply for credit cards and catalogues.

During a search of the address, officers located a cannabis factory which contained 20 small cannabis plants.

The woman, and a man who was at the address at the time of the search, were both arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis. Both were taken to custody at Melksham and have since been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Sergeant Jeff Rice said: “Following an initial search of the address, it quickly became apparent that the extent of the fraud was far greater than first suspected, and as a result, officers seized a large amount of household items believed to be linked to the fraud offences, and also located a cannabis factory.

“A man who was at the address but not a resident there, was also arrested, and as a result, a section 18 search warrant was executed at his home address in Trowbridge by officers from the Local Priority Crime Team. During this search, cannabis with a street value of approximately £500 to £600 was seized, along with scales and other drug related paraphernalia.

“These two arrests were the result of excellent joined up working by officers from the Community Policing Team, CID and Local PCT.”