THIS week's most shocking news must surely be the discovery of 300 cannabis plants in an attic in Petts Wood, discovered only when they were set alight by fire.

We, at the News Shopper, were horrified to discover that residents, only yards from our offices, including young children, were evacuated amid fears they would be exposed to a drugs-haze.

Fortunately firefighters had breathing apparatus, the outcome may have been much more serious otherwise.

The issue of whether cannabis should be legalised and licensed is one for the politicians but something must be done to control production of the drug.

It is not acceptable for any controlled substance, whether tobacco, alcohol, paracetamol or cannabis, to be produced in such large quantities so close to people's homes, and in secret.

The police should leave no stone unturned in hunting such criminals, who brazenly flout the law.

We all know that cannabis sometimes has medical benefits, but we also know drugs destroy lives and families.

If regulations surrounding drugs of any class are to be respected, we must end this ridiculous situation where people can manufacture illegal drugs on a grand scale in their own homes and get away with it.