GARDEN centre assistant David Lloyd put his green fingers to work cultivating a friend's unwanted cannabis plant.

Police went to search his house, looking for another man, and found the plants in the cellar.

Lord, 24, of Malisa Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to cultivating three plants and was fined £60 with £50 costs. The magistrates ordered the destruction of the plants and the equipment used for growing them.

Wendy Shackleton, prosecuting, said police called to execute an arrest warrant smelled cannabis. When they went into the cellar they found the plants, a high intensity light, a watering system and reflective sheeting.

Kevin Preston, defending, said the plants were not in the best of health when they were handed to Lloyd by a friend who thought he would have 'greener fingers'.

"The police did not have a search warrant. My client invited them into his home," said Mr Preston.

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