A MAJOR drugs swoop resulted in the discovery of a £20,000 cannabis cultivation in an outbuilding on the outskirts of Largs.

Scores of plants and growing equipment were recovered after police raided an outbuilding on farmland close to the Mills Milk Dairy.

The News understands the operation was an intelligence-led swoop which ended with a number of police vehicles carrying out a search of a lock-up over extended period.

Officers were on the scene from early morning on Friday until late on Saturday, with the area cordoned off.

A number of police vans remained parked around the garage, which is situated within a secluded area of farmland off the A760 between Largs and Kilbirnie, nearby to the Mills Milk business.

A Police Scotland spokesperson described the find as 'significant'.

They added: "Around 7.05am on Friday, police officers searched a garage/lock-up premises within a farm as described and discovered a significant cannabis cultivation within. Enquiries into the discovery remain ongoing at this stage.

"The estimated value of the plants recovered is approximately £20,000."

Police confirmed that the search of the premises was completed on Saturday and officers secured the scene.

A neighbouring business told the News it was 'shocked' by the findings.

One worker said: "There were police everywhere, and they clearly knew what they were looking for as the area is pretty remote.

"Everyone was talking about it and there was a lot of stuff removed from the scene."

A spokesperson for Mills Milk said: "We can confirm there was a police presence close to Mills Milk, however the police interest was surrounding a garage/lock up premises that is in no way affiliated with the company.

"There are a number of properties located at Blairpark Farm and all residents co-operated with the police to provide them with any information that they required, including details of who we believed to be renting the premises in question.

"We were completely shocked when the police informed us of their suspicions, but it would be inappropriate for us to comment any further. It is a matter for police."