Cannabis production material dumped in four places

Dead plants and empty packaging for lights and fertilisers was dumped at four locations near Ely

Cannabis production equipment has been found dumped across four locations, a council said.

Material was found in villages near Ely, including Witchford, Witcham and Witcham Bridge Drove between 1 and 2 February.

Dead plants and empty packaging for lights and fertilisers were discovered, East Cambridgeshire District Council said.

Lis Every, chair of the East Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership, said: "Drug manufacturing is closely linked to organised crime, and it is vital that we pursue all lines of inquiry in our attempts to catch those responsible and to stop this type of activity in our district."

While East Cambridgeshire District Council said rates of fly-tipping had fallen, it is seeing an increase in cannabis production waste

An environmental services officer attended the locations to examine the waste and found one of the fly-tips had blocked the road in Sedgeway.

Some waste was said to have been hidden in drainage ditches.

While overall numbers of fly-tipping have fallen, the council said it is seeing an increase in cannabis production waste.

Authorities, including the police, are appealing to anyone who may have seen vehicles present in the areas over the weekend that looked suspicious.