They followed their noses - and sniffed out the biggest cannabis factory ever found on Oxford's Blackbird Leys estate.

Pc Alex Shepherd and Pc Phil Gardiner, of the Blackbird Leys proactive team, were carrying out routine patrols on Saturday morning when they grew suspicious about a house in Balfour Road.

They knocked at the door and, when there was no answer, forced entry and found 250 fully mature cannabis plants in three rooms in the house, as well as the loft.

Pc Shepherd, 22, who is based at Cowley, said: "We were on routine investigations for an unrelated matter when we smelled the cannabis. We recognised a few other signs from past experiences of finding these things and realised this could be a cannabis factory.

"We then gained entry to the house and our suspicions were confirmed."

See Monday's Oxford Mail for the full story.