Police officers have uncovered about 1,700 cannabis plants being grown in a disused building in Colchester.

Officers attended the building at 9am on Monday after reports of suspicious activity.

Three men have been charged following the discovery of a cannabis cultivation in Spring Lane.

Erdal Ozmen, 40, of Broadway Mews, in Clapton Common; Larry Stange, 34, of Shepherd’s Bush Road, in Hammersmith, and Ali Acer, 36, of Bodney Road in Clapton, have all been charged with producing cannabis.

They will appear at Colchester Magistrate’s Court tomorrow, Wednesday January 6.