Five people from the Ipswich area will appear in court today charged with drug offences after police shut down a cannabis farm in Essex.

Some 1,500 plants were found at the disused Belvedere pub on Harding’s Elms Road in Crays Hill, Essex, on Saturday night.

Several kilogrammes of cannabis were also found in the raid when officers executed a search warrant at 7pm.

Jeremiah Dill, a 30-year-old unemployed man from Black Horse Lane in Ipswich, was charged with one count of being in possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply.

Kieven Smith, a 38-year-old unemployed man from Burrell Road in Ipswich, was charged with one count of being in possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply.

Gazmend Daci, a 26-year-old unemployed man from Wherstead Road in Ipswich, was charged with two counts of being in possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply.

Ingrida Aleknaviciute, a 27-year-old unemployed woman also from Wherstead Road in Ipswich, was also charged with two counts of being in possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply.

Michael Bridger, a 31-year-old fencer from Fishponds Lane in Holbrook, was charged with one count of being in possession of a Class B drug with intent to supply.

Edmond Koleci, a 26-year-old unemployed man from Morley Avenue in Wood Green, Essex, has been charged with one count of producing a Class B drug.

Tuan Dang, a 28-year-old unemployed man of no fixed address and 55-year-old Hong Tran, also of no fixed address, have both been charged with one count producing a Class B drug.

All eight people have been detained in police custody prior to their appearances at Basildon Magistrates’ Court today.