A police officer on patrol in Twickenham came across 26 large bags of cannabis dumped in two streets.

PC Vanessa Figg, who was on patrol in West Twickenham ward with PCSO Azelerab Jedid at around 11am on Tuesday, found 16 laundry bags in Selkirk Road.

PC Figg said: "Initially I thought this was someone fly-tipping. I began to look into the bags to see if there was any name and address within the bags to ascertain the offender.

"However, once I had opened the first bag I could smell the overwhelming whiff of cannabis."

There was a large amount of dried cannabis leaves, rotting cannabis, gloves and facial masks inside the bags.

Another 10 laundry bags containing more cannabis leaves, a halogen bulb, gloves, masks, air fresheners and vacuum bag packets were found in nearby Chertsey Road.

Inspector Rhiannon Ivens, from Richmond police, said: "It took Vanessa and her colleague more than two hours to bag the 25-plus exhibits.

"It just shows you never know what you may find when out walking the beat!"

Enquiries continue to establish where the cannabis came from.

If you have any information call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymous on 0800 555 111.