Nottingham cannabis factory fire warning

Police said the fire could easily have killed someone

A fire which was caused by an overloaded electrical socket used by cannabis growing equipment could have killed, police have warned.

The blaze started in Vale Road, Colwick, Nottingham, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Officers found equipment including high-intensity lighting and 15 cannabis plants at the property.

A 45-year-old man has been arrested in connection with growing cannabis and is being questioned by detectives.

Insp Al Pearson, from Nottinghamshire Police, said that the outcome could have been very different.

"Thankfully in this case, the fire was discovered and put out quickly," he said.

"Growing drugs in this way could cause a fatal fire and I would ask landlords in particular to be vigilant of any suspicious activity in their properties.

"We have also encountered many cases where people tap into the electricity mains in order to bypass power to grow drugs.

"This is extremely unsafe and is fraught with danger."