A CANNABIS farm of drugs with an estimated street value of a quarter of a million pounds has been found in an attic above a Burnley garage.

A dozen detectives and uniformed officers carried out an early morning raid at Burnley Auto Spares garage and warehouse in Cobden Street, Duke Bar.

In the attic they found more than 6,000 cannabis plants, including some of the potent skunk variety, being cultivated by a hydroponic system using water and light but no soil.

Skunk cannabis from earlier crops was also recovered, along with computer and electronic equipment with an estimated value of £150,000. Acting Detective Chief Inspector Clive Tattum said the raid was carried out as the result of setting up new intelligence-led teams of police in the Pennine Division, which now covers all Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

He added: "We now have more resources and manpower at our disposal and we will be carrying out more operations of this nature.''

Mr Tattum described the cannabis farm as a very professional set up.

He said police had been aware that something was happening at the premises and that the raid was carried out as a result of information received.

A 50-year-old local man has been arrested and is being questioned by police.

Mr Tattum added: "We are looking at the possibility of other people being involved.''

Forensic examination of the premises is still be carried out.

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