Residents shocked after police raid in South Shields street

Residents of Garrick Street, off Stanhope Road near Chichester, were left shocked when officers swooped on a terraced home early yesterday afternoon.

Police remained at the scene while a large amount of equipment, including ventilation kit, buckets, seedling trays and black sheets, were placed in the street as the property was cleared from the house.

About 20 plants were found inside.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “Following intelligence that drugs were growing at a property on Garrick Street, South Shields, officers carried out a search at an address.

“Nobody was inside the property and enquiries are now ongoing to locate those responsible for the farm.

“Anyone with information should contact police at 101 quoting reference 0315 260418.”

The police raid surprised residents, who said the street was in a quiet area.

One resident of the street, who did not wish to be named, said: “This is a quiet area and it’s rare to see police here.

“There’s a nursery nearby and it’s a nice street to live in.

“I don’t know what has happened, but I saw the police vehicles.

“I’ve lived here for a number of years now, and nothing like this has ever happened while I’ve been here.”

Another resident said: “The police arrived in the street at about lunchtime and were there for quite a while as they did what they needed to do.

“The street is opposite a nursery and it is usually quite quiet around here.

“I was surprised to see the police activity as it’s not what you expect to see in the middle of the day.”