Electricity tip-off leads to £5m cannabis farm

Police recovered more than three thousand cannabis plants from the large unoccupied property

A "huge" cannabis farm with an estimated street value of £5m has been discovered after police received a tip off.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) uncovered the large-scale growing operation in a disused building after being contacted by the electricity board.

Officers recovered more than three thousand plants after investigating a large building on Lower Hillgate in Stockport.

No arrests had been made and enquiries were ongoing, police said.

Police said the "huge" cannabis farm had an estimated street value of £5m

The discovery was made by neighbourhood officers in Stockport after police were alerted to the possible cannabis farm at about 10:00 BST on Thursday 13 June.

The area was subsequently assessed and made safe, with the plants removed over the course of Friday and Saturday.

Inspector Amreek Singh, from GMP’s Stockport district, said it was "a great find" for their neighbourhood team as part of their work to tackle the supply and distribution of illegal products throughout the town.

"Cannabis farms on this scale can be linked to serious and organised crime gangs, and the drugs they sell have a significant adverse impact on our communities," he added.

Insp Singh said such activity led to violence and could see vulnerable people being exploited, as well as causing numerous problems such as addiction and health issues.

He urged anyone with information about drugs supply in their area to contact police.