A MAN arrested at the scene of a £760,000 cannabis raid has been recalled to prison.

The 31-year-old man was arrested inside a former mill in Wood Street, which police said had specially built living quarters designed for long-term use.

A police spokesman said the man, who was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis, was wanted over an unrelated matter and has now been recalled to prison.

The spokesman said: “The man is not believed to be the main person in the operation, he was found at the scene.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”

Officers smashed their way through breeze block walls and discovered 20 hidden rooms which had been converted for cannabis of production in the former mill in Wood Street, yesterday.

Police said officers recovered 1,300 cannabis plants valued at around £760,000.

About 16.2kg of loose cannabis was found valued at £230,000 and equipment used for wholesale production was valued at £250,000.

Detective Inspector Vinny De Curtis said: “There were approximately 20 rooms in the building, split over three floors.

“Almost every single room had been converted for the wholesale production of cannabis plants.

“This was an enormous set-up.

“I am convinced it is one of the most sophisticated set-ups in the UK.

“The actions of officers yesterday took a large amount of planning and teamwork, and I am very pleased that it has been so successful.

“This is the largest and most sophisticated cannabis factory I’ve ever experienced and I am delighted that we have been able to take such a large amount of illicit drugs off the streets of Lancashire before they are able to reach vulnerable people within our communities.”

Police executed a Misuse of Drugs Act Warrant as part of Operation Mercury and were assisted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue and the UK Border Agency.

It is believed the building was used by organised crime gangs to create industrial amounts of cannabis.

Police found a lift providing access to the other floors disguised within the hearth of a stone fire place.

Eyewitnesses said they saw the police smashing their way into several metal shutters at the former mill.

Several police units, including crime scene investigation vans, an operations support unit, several unmarked cars and police dogs were seen outside the mill for several hours.

One local resident said there were around 20 police officers coming and going from the building.