By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 04:33 EST, 1 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:28 EST, 1 February 2013 . The environmental craze is not limited to trendy politicians and sandal-wearing tree-huggers - it seems that even drug producers are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Police have discovered a huge cannabis factory powered by more than 100 environmentally friendly solar panels. The factory contained 500 cannabis plants, with a street value of around £500,000. Drug bust: Police have raided a factory in Sussex growing 500 cannabis plants with a value of £500,000 . Unorthodox: The factory appeared to be powered by more than 100 solar panels placed on its roof . It was found on Tuesday in the tiny village of Small Dole, near Horsham in Sussex. Officers raided the warehouse, located on an industrial estate, using powers granted to them by the Misuse of Drugs Act. Three people have been arrested - a 33-year-old woman, a 40-year-old man and a 55-year-old man. Haul: Police recovered thousands of pounds worth of illegal drugs after a raid on Tuesday . Chemicals: A selection of the growth aids used by the criminals behind the factory in the village of Small Dole . Inspector Clare McKnight said: 'The . police acted on information provided by our local community, and . recovered a significant amount of cannabis. 'Drugs . have a devastating effect on a wide variety of people and the police in . Horsham are committed to holding those to account who are involved with . illegal drugs.' A spokesman said that in addition to the 115 solar panels on the roof of the facility, there were 'several power sources' involved in growing the drug. Getting stuck in: Sergeant James Makepeace pictured in the forest of drug plants . Raid: Police investigated the facility on an industrial estate following reports by concerned locals . Powering cannabis factories is often a . significant obstacle for drug producers, who must provide enough heat to . grow the plans while keeping their illegal operations hidden. Officials in sun-drenched areas of the U.S. have reported wide-scale drug operations powered by solar panels, and have even warned about the risk of homeowners' legitimate solar panels being stolen by criminals. However, there is little evidence that solar power has previously been used in the much more patchy climate of the UK.
Police raid factory growing 500 cannabis plants in Small Dole, Sussex .
Facility apparently powered by 115 solar panels on its roof .
Three arrested over valuable drug haul .
By . Hugo Gye . PUBLISHED: . 04:33 EST, 1 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:28 EST, 1 February 2013 . The environmental craze is not limited to trendy politicians and sandal-wearing tree-huggers - it seems that even drug producers are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Police have discovered a huge cannabis factory powered by more than 100 environmentally friendly solar panels. The factory contained 500 cannabis plants, with a street value of around £500,000. Drug bust: Police have raided a factory in Sussex growing 500 cannabis plants with a value of £500,000 . Unorthodox: The factory appeared to be powered by more than 100 solar panels placed on its roof . It was found on Tuesday in the tiny village of Small Dole, near Horsham in Sussex. Officers raided the warehouse, located on an industrial estate, using powers granted to them by the Misuse of Drugs Act. Three people have been arrested - a 33-year-old woman, a 40-year-old man and a 55-year-old man. Haul: Police recovered thousands of pounds worth of illegal drugs after a raid on Tuesday . Chemicals: A selection of the growth aids used by the criminals behind the factory in the village of Small Dole . Inspector Clare McKnight said: 'The . police acted on information provided by our local community, and . recovered a significant amount of cannabis. 'Drugs . have a devastating effect on a wide variety of people and the police in . Horsham are committed to holding those to account who are involved with . illegal drugs.' A spokesman said that in addition to the 115 solar panels on the roof of the facility, there were 'several power sources' involved in growing the drug. Getting stuck in: Sergeant James Makepeace pictured in the forest of drug plants . Raid: Police investigated the facility on an industrial estate following reports by concerned locals . Powering cannabis factories is often a . significant obstacle for drug producers, who must provide enough heat to . grow the plans while keeping their illegal operations hidden. Officials in sun-drenched areas of the U.S. have reported wide-scale drug operations powered by solar panels, and have even warned about the risk of homeowners' legitimate solar panels being stolen by criminals. However, there is little evidence that solar power has previously been used in the much more patchy climate of the UK.
factory powered by more than 100 environmentally in Sussex growing 500 cannabis plants with a panels placed on its roof . It was found on of Small Dole . Inspector Clare McKnight said: to the 115 solar panels on the roof of the