Police uncover drug factory at Prom hotel

Police have raided a massive cannabis factory in a disused Blackpool hotel.

Officers seized 500 plants from the Bowness Hotel on the Promenade in South Shore following tip offs from suspicious neighbours.

Each of the plants is worth £200, so the haul is believed to have a value of £100,000.

Inside the property, police found a complicated cultivation system in four rooms involving a hydroponic feeding set-up, growing lamps and ventilation.

An investigation has now been launched to find those responsible for the operation.

Det Sgt Kev Simmons, who is leading the hunt, said: “Investigations are currently ongoing to trace those responsible for the cultivation of this factory.

“Scenes of crime officers have visited the hotel and we will be following up a number of leads.

“Drugs have a detrimental affect on communities and will not be tolerated.

“If we have evidence or intelligence about drug dealing then we will act on it and we will endeavour to deal with those involved robustly.”