MEMBERS of a drugs gang - including two from the Leigh area - were today starting lengthy jail terms after police smashed a major narcotics racket which threatened to flood the streets of Manchester with cannabis.

Seven people were arrested after police mounted a surveillance operation on industrial premises in Eccles. Officers raided the yard in September 2000, and discovered the suspects had been running a cannabis "farm".

Around 850 marijuana plants -- including high strength cannabis "skunk" weed -- were recovered after being grown using state of the art "hydroponic propagation" methods including artificial lighting and heating systems. It is thought the drugs yielded from the plants would have been used to target Manchester's nightlife.

Police studied telephone records to link the suspects to the cannabis farm. They also kept watch on their movements to and from the yard on the Lyntown trading estate.

Inquiries revealed one of the main members of the gang was career criminal Ian Massey, aged 49, of Alberta Walk, Partington, who had previously served a jail term for peddling amphetamine, and had once served a 14-year prison sentence for armed robbery.

Police initially valued the drugs seized as £1m, but Minshull Street Crown Court heard the yield was probably worth around £150,000.

Officers investigating the farm seized a further 106 cannabis plants from a loft at a house in Astley, near Leigh.

Massey denied cultivating cannabis, but was convicted after a trial and was jailed for 18 months. Judge Jonathan Geake described him as a "career criminal", but said it was impossible to gauge the full extent of his and other gang member's roles. Michael Siddeley, aged 29, of Rainhill, Merseyside, and 28-year-old Paul Cunningham of Dunmail Close, Astley, near Leigh, admitted drugs offences, and were each jailed for nine months.

Lloyd Muse, aged 31, of Parkway, Woolston, near Warrington, was jailed for two years, after admitting producing cannabis and unrelated offences of possessing heroin and amphetamine with intent to supply.

Martin Andrusjak, aged 32, of Naunton Avenue, Leigh, was ordered to complete 180 hours community service after he admitted drugs offences.