THE house in Elmstead Avenue, Chislehurst, where a fire broke out this morning was a cannabis factory, police have confirmed.

Police were called to the house at 9.34am and discovered a cannabis factory in the house and a further factory in the garden shed.

A 57-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and illegally abstracting electricity.

She has been bailed until March 27 pending further investigation.

David Dibley, 51, who lives in Walden Avenue metres from the house in question, said: "I am quite frankly shocked as it is a very nice area - there are nice, respectable people here.

"It is something that you do not really expect to have so close to home.

"Drugs bring an area down and lead to increased crime, so it is very bad news, not a good thing."

David Moore, 66, who lives in Elmstead Avenue, said: "I am truly, truly shocked - I never suspected anything.

"The man who lives there walks up the road every day with his dog.

"It is disgusting - there are people down the road with kids."