POLICE seized 284 suspected cannabis plants after raiding a house in Hill Head yesterday.

A team of 11 officers and one forensic expert swooped on the house in Solent Road, a quiet residential street just after 10.30am.

The plants were discovered in the double garage next to the house. An assortment of cannabis growing equipment including lights and water pumps was also found.

Police spent four hours at the scene during which they scoured every bedroom and carried out a thorough search of the garage.

Neighbours saw officers led by Sgt Derek Nichols of Park Gate, escort two men out of the house and into police vans.

He told the Echo: "We found what we anticipated.

"We had some suspicions over a period of time. We managed to provide enough evidence to the magistrates who issued us with a search warrant."

Sgt Nichols described the occupants of the house as "amenable" after being confronted with officers on their doorstep.

"They let us get on with our search," he said.

One eye-witness, who did not want to be named, described how several police cars pulled up outside the house before officers went in and opened all the windows.

Another neighbour, who took the day off work to watch the World Cup, watched the drama unfold as a steady stream of officers was seen coming and going from the house.

The neighbour said a couple in their forties moved in with their five children in 1999.

The suspected cannabis plants include 58 mature ones. The remainder are small shoots. All were taken to Fareham Police Station.

The top leaves of a sample of the plants will be analysed to confirm whether they are cannabis.

Police have arrested a 42-year-old man and a 19-year-old man.

They were being held at Fareham Police Station for questioning.