FIREFIGHTERS found a cannabis farm with plants worth an estimated £150,000 after being called to a house fire.

Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade have issued a warning about the potential for cannabis farms to cause fires after the blaze at a property in Middlesbrough.

The fire started because of dangerous wiring set up to bypass the electricity meter.

The Fire Brigade attended a report of a property on Falmouth Street at around 7.30pm on Monday.

On arrival they found a cannabis farm and contacted police.

Officers from the Community Drugs Enforcement Team dismantled the equipment and removed the plants, estimated to be worth around £150,000.

The warning comes just a matter of weeks after a cannabis farm found at a property on Clarendon Road in Middlesbrough on Monday, January 11 was also found with unsafe wiring.

Police also warned that owners of properties need to be vigilant when renting to tenants that they do not know, especially if they are offering cash payments.

Detective Inspector Steve Kappel, from the Community Drugs Enforcement Team, said: “Dangerous wiring which is used to bypass electricity meters proves to be a fire hazard at most cannabis farms which are discovered.

“It’s lucky that this property did not go up in flames entirely. Lives are being put at risk and it’s not acceptable. It’s only a matter of time before there is a serious incident due to the irresponsible actions of those setting up cannabis farms.”

Phil Lancaster, Director of Community Protection at Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: “This is extremely irresponsible. We utterly condemn such behaviour and fully support the police in any action taken.”

Anyone with information regarding drugs activity in their area is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101, the Cleveland Drugs Enforcement Team confidential line on 0800 929 702 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.