Winter weather - and cool-headed locals - helped police uncover a cannabis factory containing more than 100 plants this morning.
Officers raided the industrial unit in Oakwood Road, West Thornton, at 7.30am after previously receiving a tip-off from locals that snow was melting on its roof faster than on surrounding properties.
Approximately 130 cannabis plants were seized, along with several bags of herbal cannabis and other drugs paraphernalia.
No one was at the property and no arrests were made.
Sergeant James Hodges from the West Thornton Safer Neighbourhoods Team said: "This was a well established cannabis factory, and even when we went inside the building, we couldn't smell the cannabis straight away, so it had been well ventilated and insulated. Cannabis factories, as well as often being linked to other crime in a local area can also be extremely dangerous due to all the electrics and heating systems that are often used, which represent a real risk of fire.
"But thanks to the local businesses we were alerted to the premises and were able to secure a search warrant. We would encourage our local residents to get in touch and tell us if they have similar concerns about drugs and we will take action."
