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Drug factory found in town centre
A CANNABIS factory has been discovered above an exclusive Lytham boutique.
Police were called to a luxury flat on Pleasant Street Parade after an irrigation system used in the growing of the drug failed, causing water to pour into clothes shop Sugar, below.
Inside the first-floor property officers found 100 cannabis plants capable of producing 15,000 of the drug.
Francis Healy, owner of Sugar, said: "I had no idea what was going on above us."
Det Sgt Paddy Dowling, of Blackpool CID, said: "It's unusual because these types of operation tend to be in more run down accommodation whereas this was a luxury flat.
"Inquiries are ongoing to see who's responsible.
"There was a sophisticated hydroponics set-up with lighting and ventilation with around 100 plants about halfway through their growing cycle.
"The property is a bit of a mess. They've gone through walls for ventilation."
Police were called to the premises at around 10am yesterday after water was found leaking from the flat.
A man was seen the day before attempting to turn off an alarm.
Mr Healy added: "I just arrived to discover my floor completely soaked through and 10 or more dresses ruined. I'm not sure what the total damage is, but we've been forced to shut up shop and lose trade."
A spokesman for Lytham St Annes Art Centre, next door to Sugar, added: "It was surreal, I had no idea and definitely didn't expect it to happen here.
"It all started on Wednesday afternoon about 4.30pm, when alarms sounded throughout the parade. I went to stop them in the hallway to the entrance of the flats, and I discovered a man desperately trying to disconnect the alarms. He suddenly ran off.
"The next morning the owner of Sugar discovered his flat completely soaked and I saw the building manager climb up a ladder to the flat above, because nobody was in and we were afraid somebody was stuck, to discover the windows were blocked.
"When he broke through, we were astounded to discover there was a cannabis factory."
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Weather for Blackpool
Monday 13 February 2012
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Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
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