A cannabis farm was found in the roof of a house after a fire broke out today, Friday.

The semi-detached property on Ainsworth Road in Little Lever sustained substantial fire damage to its roof following the incident

Emergency services were called to the empty house at around 12:30pm.

The fire spread to the roof of the neighbouring property where residents were present but it was contained by crews who were already onsite.

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There were no injuries reported.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) released a statement saying that the fire is believed to have started from a cannabis farm located in the roof of the property.

The roads outside the houses, which sit on the junction between Ainsworth Road and Victory Road, were closed for some time.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said that they were on their way home from shopping when they saw “thick smoke” coming from the roof tiles.

They said: “The fire really took hold - I could see it seeping through the roof tiles. I just feel so sorry for the people who live next door.”

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Another neighbour said that they did not know there had been a fire until a passer by knocked on their door to inform them and then saw “about four engines outside".

They said: “I saw the wind catch the fire in such a way that it began to spread quite quickly to the neighbouring house.”

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “At just after 12.30pm on Friday, five fire engines from Farnworth, Bury, Bolton and Whitefield attended a fire involving two semi-detached homes on Ainsworth Road, Little Lever.

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose reels and jets to extinguish the fire.”

There have been no arrests and enquiries are ongoing.