A 42-YEAR-OLD man who had been using cannabis since he was 15 years old admitted smoking up to 21 reefers a day by the time police raided his house.

Blackburn magistrates heard the officers found a 'sophisticated' cannabis growing set-up in an upstairs bedroom which was devoted to the crop.

And prosecutor Catherine Allan said James Andrew Greenwood must have green fingers because he was growing some 'spectacular' plants.

Greenwood, of Dukes Brow, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis.

He was ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work and pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Miss Allan said she had referred the matter back to the police for confirmation that there were just 10 plants having seen photographs of the crop which appeared to show a much larger number.

"The police have confirmed it was 10 plants and they would have had a potential yield of £4,000 worth of cannabis," said Miss Allan.

Richard Prew, defending, said his client had modified his use of cannabis since the police raid.

Probation officer Elliot Smith, who presented a verbal report to the magistrates, said the day after he was arrested Greenwood had suffered a heart attack.

"That has caused him to re-evaluate his life and he has drastically reduced his use of cannabis which has been going on since he was 15 years old," said Mr Smith.