Two cannabis factories were found within streets of each other in Willenhall, in the space of just two days.

Hundreds of cannabis plants were seized from two modest terraced homes, as scores of stunned neighbours looked on.

The first discovery was made by chance on Saturday, after a blaze broke out in an end terrace in Orchard Close. A police raid yesterday evening uncovered a second haul in nearby Birmingham Street.

Police swooped on the house yesterday, seizing two large skipfuls of plants and growing equipment.

Neighbours said they were stunned by the discovery, as many had thought the house was empty.

Nearby resident, father-of-two Lee Woodhouse, aged 40, said he had spotted police cars at the house at around 5.30pm yesterday.

“When I walked past, I could see inside it and there was silver foil lining the walls and the smell was just unbelievable,” he said.

“It used to be really quiet round here.”

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, added: “I just can’t believe that these things are happening behind closed doors and we don’t even know about it.”

Just a day earlier, hundreds of plants had been found crammed into the end terrace in Orchard Close. Firefighters were called to the quiet cul-de-sac at around 10.30am on Saturday to reports of a small fire in the brick porchway of a house.

But after dampening the flames, caused by dodgy electrics rigged up to grow the plants, the startling discovery was made.

Simon Bevington, Willenhall fire station crew commander, said: “Wires had been fed into the mains feed to bypass the meters for all the lighting and heating equipment.

“The wiring was dodgy and short-circuited and the fire was contained just to the porch outbuilding. But when crews searched the property, they had a bit of a surprise.”

Inspector John Bostock, of West Midlands Police, said community intelligence had led to the second raid. He added “We are determined to stamp out this kind of crime.”