A £1MILLION cannabis factory, one of the largest ever discovered in East Lancashire, has been shut down.

More than 1,400 plants were seized by police when they raided a three-storey disused mill in Nelson.

Inspector Paul Leigh, from Nelson Police, said the drugs haul was the biggest in the Pennine Division, which covers Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

And he said the drugs were destined for local streets.

Officers raided the old cash and carry site in Brook Street, after a tip-off from residents who could smell a strong odour coming from the building.

Insp Leigh said the factory was run by organised criminals and could have put lives at risk.

He said: “This was a sophisticated and professional set-up and one of the largest we have ever seen in the division.

“These factories are set up by organised criminals and not only perpetrate the large scale supply of illicit drugs but also commit significant environmental damage.

“United Utilities have estimated the electricity abstracted on a set-up of this scale would be in the region of £30,000.

“The building is a significant fire risk and could have put people’s lives at risk.

“Organised criminals have started to move into this area, there is massive financial gain for them and we are seeing an increase in it.

“But it is something that we are determined to tackle.”

As well as the cannabis, officers also seized lighting and heating equipment used to cultivate the plants.

A second address in Edith Street, believed to be linked to the factory, was also raided, although nobody has been arrested yet.

Forensic experts spent today analysing the seized drugs and gathering evidence from the scene.

Officers are also investigating who owned the building.

Insp Leigh added: “The quantity of drugs found would suggest that they were destined not just for the streets of Nelson and Pendle but probably across the whole of East Lancashire."

The raid, which happened on Monday morning, follows a number of other major seizures in the past 12 months.

Last June officers discovered 1,700 plants growing at a business premises in Gate Street, Accrington.

Four hundred plants were seized from a house in Royds Avenue, Accrington, last May.

In 2009 more than 1,300 plants were found growing inside The Duke of York pub, in Burnley, and a house in Nelson.

Coun Eileen Ansar, who represents the Cloverhill ward on Pendle Council, said the premises were last used by a cash and carry business but had remained empty for some time.

PC Hazel Richardson, community beat manager for the Cloverhill and Walverden area, said: “We are having some real successes in disrupting the supply of cannabis in Nelson but we need the public’s help to sustain our activity."

Anyone with information is urged to call 0845 1 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.