Hundreds of cannabis plants seized by police
Cumbria PoliceAlmost 700 cannabis plants with a street value of about £550,000 have been seized.
Cumbria Police said the plants were confiscated as part of a crackdown on industrial-level cultivation by organised crime gangs in the county.
The discoveries were made at places including Workington and Seascale.
Det Supt Ian Hussey said groups behind the schemes were using "more inventive ways to conceal cannabis grows", but warned their efforts often caused safety worries.
"Cannabis farms are very dangerous places and pose a serious risk of fire," he said.
"Often the electricity meter has been bypassed, and seriously overloaded electrical circuits run close to water-filled pipes.
"Plants grown upstairs in a building can also cause floorboards to rot, presenting the danger of collapse."