A cannabis factory housing 4,000 plants has been discovered in a former community centre – the second huge discovery within days.

Estimated to be cultivating £1 million of plants, officers made the discovery in the old Street Star Academy in Pool Street, Chuckery. They found the haul after being called to reports of a burglar breaking in. It comes after the discovery of 3,500 cannabis plants at a former carpet warehouse in Queen Street, Walsall, last week.

The old Street Star Academy was once a community media centre with its own recording studio which was popular with youngsters from the area.

But since it shut down it has been taken over by criminals who have converted it with sophisticated lighting and heating equipment to cultivate rows upon rows of cannabis plants worth an estimated £250 per plant.

The latest set up was found on Saturday at around 10.45pm. One man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of being involved in the cultivation of cannabis. He has since been released without charge but the Immigration Service is making inquiries about his status.

Sergeant Robert Harris from the Park Hall and Chuckery neighbourhood team said: “Around 4,000 plants were seized, which is hugely impactive on our fight to tackle cannabis production in the region and take drugs off the streets.

“We will continue to work closely with our communities to crack down on drugs and encourage anyone with information about crime in their area to call or speak to their local neighbourhood policing team today.”

Walsall cabinet member Councillor Mohammed Arif was the innocent owner of the Queen Street premises and had leased it out months before.

Up to £30,000 of damage was done to the building and he warned landlords to be wary of suffering the same fate today.

“I think the message we need to send out is that these people seem to be changing how they operate,” he said.

“We have seen a number of examples in recent months of these gangs moving away from residential and into industrial sites.

“The problem is there are more and more of these sites becoming empty in the region.

“When you look at the rewards on offer, it is clear people are willing to take the risk.”

He called for more legal protection for landlords.

“I think the law should be changed in such a way that landlords have more power to get access to their properties, where they have suspicions,” he said.

Police inquiries into the cannabis factory in Pool Street continue. Anyone with information is urged to ring 0845 113 5000 and ask to speak to officers at Walsall police station.