A CANNABIS factory with around 100 plants has been discovered in Gorse Hill after a fire broke out.

Police and the fire service responded to reports of a fire on the ground floor of a mid-terraced house on Beatrice Street at 9.30pm yesterday.

The fire caused severe damage to the building but everyone was accounted for and neighbours were evacuated safely.

After firefighters put out the blaze, officers found a cannabis factory running over two floors inside.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation but is not being treated as suspicious at this stage and a cordon remains in place.

Inspector Ben Huggins said: “The building has been made safe and I would like to thank the fire service in ensuring this didn’t end in tragedy.

“I’d also like to thank the local community for their patience and cooperation during the disruption this has caused, with neighbours having to be evacuated for their own safety and the road being closed temporarily.

“A detailed investigation has begun to establish how this cannabis factory was set up and who was responsible, and there will be a police presence in the area while this continues.

“We would like to hear from anyone in the local area who may have seen any suspicious activity at the property or have any information on the occupants to come forward and speak to us.”

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting log 301 of yesterday’s date (26/01).
Police would particularly like to hear from anyone who has CCTV in the local area. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Anyone with concerns of drug activity or cultivation in their area should call 101 to report your concerns or go online to report here - https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/