Police allegedly found around 50 cannabis plants in the home of a former Havering parliamentary candidate at the weekend.

The discovery was made after officers were called to an attempted break-in at Terry Hurlstone’s semi-detached house in Garry Way, Rise Park, just after 8am on Sunday.

A police spokesman stressed Mr Hurlstone, 71, was not being linked to the find.

A neighbour called 999 after seeing a smashed window at the property and found the former Liberal activist - who was four times unsuccessful in his bid to take the Romford seat - “dazed and confused”.

When officers arrived they were confronted by the smell of the weed, growing in an upstairs bedroom.

Police blocked off the road for much of the morning while they investigated.

One neighbour said: “Normally it’s church bells you hear at that time on Sunday morning, this time it was police sirens.”

Mr Hurlstone was taken by ambulance to Queen’s Hospital, in Rom Valley Way, Romford, following the incident. His condition is unknown.

No arrests have been made, police said, but enquiries are ongoing.