POLICE discovered a cannabis factory filled with hundreds of plants in a Bournemouth street earlier this summer.

Plants with an estimated street value of at least £175,000 were found at the address in Wallisdown Road after neighbours reported a suspicious smell.

Two men were also arrested during the police raid on May 23. The pair, both Albanian nationals, have now been jailed for their role in the enterprise after both admitted producing cannabis.

James Kellam, prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday, said defendants Flogert Kadiu, 23, and Genti Lamaj, 39, were paid to be "cannabis gardeners".

"Police went to the address following reports of a strong smell," he said.

"They noticed the smell when they got to the address. They looked in the kitchen window and saw ventilation equipment and a large amount of fertiliser."

One of the defendants tried to run away, but stopped when told to by the officers. The second was seen on the roof of the porch. He also came down when asked.

Police later discovered the entire property had been converted into a cannabis factory. In total, 353 plants were growing in almost every room. A total of 45 600-watt lamps, an electric fan, an extraction unit, a water tanks and other equipment was seized.

Mr Kellam acknowledged Kadiu and Lamaj weren't "kingpins".

Mary Aspinall-Miles, representing Lamaj, said the defendants didn't know each other before they moved to the property.

"They were utterly disposable," she said.

"[Lamaj] was there to water the plants and make sure they didn't die."

The defendant, who has two young children, one of whom is going blind, had come to the UK after being promised work in the building trade, the court heard.

Kadiu had been working in a car wash before work "dried up", barrister Kevin Hill told the court.

"He had been threatened and threats had been made to family members," Mr Hill said.

"There is no doubt this is a case where Mr Kadiu had been exploited."

The men were paid poorly for their work. Each month, £250 would be pushed under the front door for bills, it was heard.

Judge Peter Crabtree OBE said the pair were involved with a "significant operation".

"You were both engaged through pressure and intimidation which fell short of duress," he said.

Both men were sentenced to 12 months in prison. They are likely to be deported upon their release.