AROUND 50 bags of waste believed to be from the production of cannabis were dumped at a local beauty spot.

The rubbish was flytipped at Smithills Estate, in the area near Smithills Dean Road and Coal Pit Road on Tuesday morning.

The Woodland Trust, which manages the land, reported it to the police.

It has been reported that it is waste from the production of cannabis and it was removed by officers by noon on Tuesday.

The Woodland Trust is working with the police to try and identify those responsible.

Russ Hedley, from the Woodland Trust, said: “We’re working with the local police to try and identify any clues as to the culprits and can reassure visitors the waste was removed very quickly, by midday on Tuesday. “Whether it’s this sort of material or any other fly-tipped waste, the principle is the same and it costs us both time and money to deal with.”

The Smithills Estate is the largest site ever acquired in England by the Woodland Trust.

The trust spent £35,181 clearing up flytipping across the country last year, the most it has ever spent.

The dump on Tuesday was reported to The Bolton News by a dog walker.