A cannabis farm was discoved in Bolton town centre after police were called to a suspected burglary.

Shoppers and business owners looked on as a number of police vehicles pulled up on the busy high street.

This is the fourth major cannabis farm has been found in the town centre.

More than 300 plants were found growing in the basement of premises on Deansgate on Monday.

Farms were uncovered at the former Late Club and Bar Ice in Bank Street and in 2021 two huge grows were found at an old bank and former BMW Williams premises in the town centre..

Police arrived at midday on Monday and officers say approximately 300 plants were discoverd in the basement of the property, where the door has been boarded up.

One business owner says he stepped outside when heard the police cars and said there was a heavy police presence.

He said: “There were lots of police cars just after 1pm.

“I knew something big had happened because of how many cars were there.

“It was like something out of Starsky and Hutch.”

The Bolton News: This is what police discoveredThis is what police discovered (Image: Public)

Another business owner captured the moment police arrived on camera.

She said: “There were lots of police.

“I’m not sure what happened.”

Farnworth Neighbourhood Team have since removed and destroyed the plants.

The images shared by police show the huge number of plants that were discovered at the scene.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “After a report of a burglary to a property on Deansgate.

“Bolton Town Centre, a cannabis farm containing approximately 300 plants was discovered in the basement.

“Farnworth Neighbourhood Team have attended, and the plants have been removed and destroyed.”

The Bolton News: The moment police were spottedThe moment police were spotted (Image: Public)

He added: "Atapproximately 12pm on Monday 31 October 2022, officers were called to reports of a burglary on Deansgate in Bolton.

"Officers attended and discovered a suspected cannabis farm within the premises.

"A scene was put in place whilst officers carried out an investigation."

It’s not the first time that a cannabis farm has been uncovered in Bolton town centre.

In January 2021 police located a cannabis farm producing drugs that had an estimated street value of half-a-million pounds, in an abandoned bank on Wood Street.

It came as a result of information officers received from the public.

Officers found around 900 plants weighing around 252 kilos spread across six rooms.

Similar cannabis farms have also been uncovered in recent months while arrests have been made around Bolton for the possession and sale of illegal drugs.

A huge cannabis farm was found inside a disused town centre nightclub — after officers and shoppers sniffed out the potent drug.

Police uncovered the haul — with a street value of about £250,000 — after raids on two former nightclubs this morning.

The “large-scale and organised” operation was discovered after The Late Club and Club Ice in Bank Street were searched.

Police have appealed for anyone concerned about drug related crime or anti-social behaviour in their areas to get in touch by calling 101 or 999 in the event of an emergency.

Alternatively, witnesses can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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