A BUILDER has described the shock of finding a house converted into a “professional” cannabis factory.

Chris Akaidere, who had rented out the property through an agent, is spending around £5,000 repairing the damage.

“It’s an absolute nightmare,” said Chris, 47, speaking yesterday at the detached house in Richmond Park Avenue, Charminster, Bournemouth.

Police raided it on Sunday after a neighbour saw a strange orange glow coming from a window.

Chris said the police found 425 plants, each worth £500 – a total of £212,500. Every room except for one had been converted into a makeshift hot house.

In each there was an 18-socket electricity board to operate the 70 lights and water pumps.

The growers had cut into the mains to steal electricity and passed ventilation through holes cut in the floors and roof.

“These are professional,” said Chris, a builder and shopfitter who lives in Wallisdown. “They knew what they were doing.”

The agents rented the house to an outwardly respectable family nine months ago.

There were packets of Vietnamese food, fish heads and chopsticks in the kitchen – and a set of electronic scales.

The house was filled with joss sticks, oil burners and odour tablets to absorb the cannabis smell.

There were also the dried-up remains of plants – which suggested there might have been more than one crop.

The front drive is now piled up with plastic ventilation tubes, silver foil and dozens of plant food bottles.

The house needs at least two weeks work and Chris has lost the last month’s rent.

His son Ollie, 22, from Boscombe said: “The carpets have got to be replaced and the ceilings replastered.”

It will cost £800 to £1,000 to reconnect the electricity.

“I’m gutted because I’m not insured for the contents,” said Chris. “But what can I do? It’s tough luck.”

A Dorset Police spokesman confirmed that a “large number of plants” had been seized.

A 39-year-old woman and 47-year-old man were arrested then eliminated from enquiries and released without charge.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Constable Joy Wright on 01202 222222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.