Sixteen people were appearing in court today after more than 1,000 cannabis plants were recovered in raids, including a swoop on a £1 million West Midland mansion.

More than 50 officers were involved in eight raids where drugs with a street value of £500,000 were found across Caldmore, Park Hall and Little Aston on the Staffordshire and Walsall border.

Eleven men and five women have been charged in connection with conspiracy to cultivate and supply a controlled drug and were appearing before Walsall Magistrates Court today.

One of the factories was discovered at a rented seven-bedroom home in Roman Road, Little Aston.

Residents living on the same estate include ex-England and Wolves manager Graham Taylor and double Laurence Olivier Award winning actor and Waking the Dead star Trevor Eve.

Last month two £1m cannabis factories were found in a former carpet warehouse in Pleck, and an empty community centre in Chuckery, both Walsall.