Cannabis worth £800,000 found in abandoned Doncaster nightclub

Police found about 800 plants in the former nightclub

A "huge" cannabis factory with plants worth about £800,000 has been found in an abandoned Doncaster nightclub.

South Yorkshire Police discovered about 800 plants at the venue in Silver Street on Thursday following a tip-off.

Officers are now trying to trace two men seen exiting the building, using wire to climb down from a first-floor window.

Insp Lisa Bird from South Yorkshire Police said: "This was a sophisticated and significant set-up."

Police found evidence people had been living inside the property, including fresh food and cooking utensils.

Two men were later seen exiting the building, a former nightclub

Insp Bird said: "Some people might think cannabis is a harmless drug, but its link to organised crime has been proven.

"Organised crime groups bring misery to communities with increased violence, use of weapons and drugs supply.

"It leads to vulnerable people being exploited to look after the cannabis grows and there is evidence of that happening in this particular case."

The plants were spread across six rooms, with the building's electricity supply also tampered with.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police.