POLICE who raided the home of a 54-year-old Darwen man found a sophisticated cannabis production operation.

Blackburn magistrates heard that the officers recovered 24 cannabis plants and more than 270 seedlings.

Glenn Ball told the officers that the yield from the plants would keep him supplied with cannabis for four months by which time 10 per cent of the seedlings would have matured and he would be able to harvest another crop.

Ball, of Stork Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis plants.

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report with a warning that the starting point would be custody.

Philip Potter, prosecuting, said the set-up at the defendant's home was relatively sophisticated.

"He said he was growing the cannabis for his own personal use because he had a variety of ailments and it was cheaper than buying it," said Mr Potter.

"He was propagating the plants and he explained that each crop would supply his needs for about four months until the next one was ready."

He said Ball had been convicted of possession and cultivation of cannabis in 1994, possession of the drug in 1996 and producing 27 cannabis plants in 2005.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said Ball's history of drugs related to his medical problems.

He said that Ball had gone to his doctor complaining of pains in his legs.

"He was told there was nothing that could be done until the pain became unbearable when an operation would be possible," said Mr Church-Taylor.

"If that didn't work he was told amputation would be the only option.

"The doctor said the pain would be such that amputation would seem like a good option."

Mr Church-Taylor said that cannabis did not kill the pain but stopped it coming on.

"He smokes cannabis to manage the pain and growing his own kept him away from the drug scene," he added.