Five men have been jailed for over 20 years following the discovery of a £500,000 cannabis farm.

John Brown, 35, of Appleby Drive, Romford, was given six years, Joseph Xenofondos, 40, of Loughton Way, Buckhurst Hill, five years, Anthony Georgiou, 49, of Felstead Road, Loughton, four-and-half years and Stephen Francis, 46, of Knighton Drive, Woodford Green, four years, after they all admitted conspiracy to produce the drug.

Also at the trial at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday, Jamie Walters, 57, of Ackroyd Drive, Bow, East London, received two years in jail for conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Christopher Reilly, 49, of Dandelion Close, Rush Green, was given one year suspended for two years, with a six month curfew, attendance at a Thinking Skills programme and 80 hours unpaid work for the same reason.

A total of 800 plants and 10 kg of the class B drug was found when police raided the warehouse in Paslow Hall Farm in King Street, Ongar on March 14.