A HAUL of giant cannabis plants up to seven feet tall, grown in a greenhouse in a back garden in Bolton, have been seized by police.

The nine towering green plants were taken by drug squad officers from the house in Harwood.

This latest haul takes the value of drugs seized off the streets in the area to a staggering £300,000 over the last 12 months.

In the first six months of the year officers in Astley Bridge have seized more than £18,500 worth of cannabis alone.

During the last year 206 drug dealers have been arrested in Astley Bridge, and there have been a total of 79 warrants executed. Cash and assets worth £30,000 have been seized during raids.

Today Sgt Jim Winward, policing co ordinator in the operational policing unit at Astley Bridge, gave out a strong message to drug dealers in the area.

He said: "If you deal in drugs in Bolton you will be arrested and put before the courts.

"In Astley Bridge we have one of the premier drugs units in Greater Manchester. And it is quite simple -- if you deal in drugs here you will be caught.

"We are a proactive unit and in addition to making arrests we try to divert people from using drugs. We have a health referral scheme and everyone arrested is offered the chance to go on it. We want to educate people about the dangers, to divert them away from drugs.

"Despite what people may say, cannabis is illegal and will lead to a criminal record which can cause serious problems in later life at home, college or work.

"The penalties are very severe. Anyone caught cultivating or dealing in cannabis can get up to 14 years in prison.

"This latest haul was small in terms of others, but it is unusual because these were quite big healthy plants and were being kept in a greenhouse."

One man in his twenties was arrested in connection with the seizure and bailed pending further police investigations.