SEVERE weather conditions have helped police remove £13,000 worth of drugs from Rossendale’s streets.

Officers found eight nine ounce bars of cannabis resin in a blue Renault Clio which was involved in a collision with a taxi in Shawclough Road, Waterfoot.

A witness who saw the collision, which happened in icy conditions, told police the Clio’s passenger had run off, dumping a package under a nearby car.

Police are now appealing for other witnesses of the collision to come forward to help them find the white male passenger.

Det Sgt Mark Gillibrand, of Rossendale CID, said: “I appeal to anyone who was in the Shawclough Road area of Waterfoot around 8pm on December 8 to come forward.

“I am very keen to speak to the passenger or anyone who might be able to tell me anything about him.

“This was a substantial amount of Cannabis to find. There is no doubt this amount of drugs was going to be sold on our streets.”

The crash may also be linked with another incident in Burnley Road East, Waterfoot on the same evening.

Police received a report of a man jumping out of a new white Range Rover Sport and putting his jumper in the bin.

Officers have recovered the jumper and are appealing to anyone who may have seen this vehicle, thought to have a private number plate and blacked out windows, to contact them.

Det Sgt Gillibrand said: “We are not sure if both incidents are related, but we would like to speak to the driver of the Range Rover or anyone who saw the vehicle in the vicinity on that evening.”

A 22-year-old man from Rochdale has been arrested and released on bail.

Comments unavailable on this story for legal reasons.