A SKELETON found at Tilbury dock may have inadvertantly led police to containers packed with cannabis plants.

Dock Police have smashed of a cannabis growing operation in the same area of the sprawling container huge port. But investigators have confirmed that the drugs were found a few days after a discovery of animal bones.

Three people were arrested and released on police bail after the discovery of plants in two specially converted metal containers at berth 34. This area of the port is operated by DHL.

The area where the cannabis growing operation was centred is near Tilbury Ness, only yards away from the main lock gates.

Container storage and warehousing takes place at the remote region.

Two 20ft white containers - specially converted to allow the plants to be grown inside ultra-violet light - were moved by police.

A police spokesman at Tilbury docks said: "There were some remains found last week and they were found on an old victorian dumping area. The remains were 80-year-old animal remains, not human. They were found in the berth 34 area."

The officer confirmed that an ongoing operation was in progress at Tilbury.

"Three people from Essex were arrested and are now out on police bail," he added.