THE biggest ever cannabis factory in East Lancashire has been uncovered in a former textile.

Around 2,000 cannabis plants were recovered from the Jubilee House building, off Gate Street, in Copy Nook, Blackburn, yesterday.

According to investigating officers, the size and scale of the sophisticated operation makes it likely to be linked to organised crime groups from the far east.

Sgt Steve Bury said: “There is six or seven rooms with plants at different stages of growth. There is at least 250 plants in each room and we estimate around 2,000 plants altogether.

“With cannabis farms of this type, they tend to be used by organised crime groups.

“There is evidence there to suggest this is one of these cases.”

Sgt Bury said officers had arrested a Vietnamese man, described as a ‘full-time gardener’, who had been living on the premises.

He said: “We think he has been living there for five months. It appears there has already been a crop from these plants.

“It is one of the biggest cannabis factories we have ever come across. It’s not often you see something on this scale.

“It’s a sophisticated set-up with filtration, lighting and heating. I can’t say at this time what the street value of these plants is worth.

“By bringing this operation down, it is a clear indication that the police won’t stand drugs activity or production and will act on any information we receive.”

Officers had to enlist the help of the fire brigade to get into the premises, which is separated into smaller units, as the doors were heavily secured.

As the Lancashire Telegraph went to press, police and utility companies were attempting to fix faulty wiring to make the building safe.

The site was entered under a misuse of drugs warrant and a Vietnamese man in his 20s, was arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis.

An employee at a neighbouring business on the site, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “They must have been very discreet because we’ve not seen any suspicious activity.

“There’s been no comings and goings. This has come as a big shock.”

In June this year, more than £1,000 cannabis plants worth an estimated £150,000 were discovered on premises in Unity Mill, Pearson Street, Blackburn.

A Vietnamese criminal gang was also said to be behind a 1,200-strong plant cannabis farm in Burnley, near Turf Moor, which was busted in 2007.