Two cannabis factories containing drugs with a street value of £350,000 were discovered by police in quiet suburban streets.

One of the raids was of a house opposite Sutton’s deputy council leader Ruth Dombey’s home.

On Thursday a large police operation was launched in the early hours involving the force’s helicopter and dog teams after the discovery of 300 plants in Waverley Avenue, near Sutton Common.

And on Friday, police raided another house in Shrewsbury Road, Carshalton, where about 400 cannabis plants were found to be growing.

There were no occupants in the property at the time.

Coun Dombey said: “I was hugely impressed by how efficiently the police handled the incident, with very little disruption to residents.

“While my neighbours and I were initially shocked, we were quickly reassured by the police response.

“It is also good news that these drugs will not find their way on to the streets and that the criminals involved will be brought before the courts.

“Improving community safety is a priority for the council.

“We will continue to work closely with the police, through the Safer Sutton Partnership to tackle drug-related crime and drug abuse.”

At 3.30am residents in Waverley Avenue were awoken by the police helicopter flying low above the houses.

Witnesses saw four police vehicles in the street and a dog team searching local gardens for clues.

One witness, who lives in Waverley Avenue, said he saw some men in his garden.

He said: “I woke up when I heard all the noise.

“I looked out of my window and saw three young men jumping over fences.

“Some time after that the police arrived with the helicopter and started shining their torches around the gardens.”

The men who rented the property are believed to be Vietnamese.

Neighbours say they had only been there for a month and they worked in a local restaurant.

A spokesman for Sutton Police said: “Sutton Police closed two cannabis factories on two consecutive days last week.

“In Waverley Avenue, Sutton, a young male, who was in the property at the time, was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis.

“Both cannabis factories have been closed down and police are continuing their enquiries.”

• For the latest crime statistics for your area, see our Local Information section by clicking here