FIREMEN EXPOSE CANNABIS FARM

Firefighters stumbled across a UKP30,000 cannabis factory in Oxford
after neighbours saw steam pouring from the roof and thought it was
smoke.

Residents in Margaret Road, Headington, thought number 11 was ablaze,
but the smoke was actually hot air created by lamps used to grow
cannabis plants in trays on both floors.

Police say the number of cannabis factories are on the increase and
are appealing to residents to alert them if they see or hear anything
suspicious.

Fire crews who found the plants inside called police, and yesterday
officers cordoned off the scene and continued collecting evidence.

PC Steve Martin, 33, based at St Aldate's police station, one of 12
officers working on the inquiry, said the cannabis that could be
extracted from the 531 plants had an estimated street value of UKP30,000.

He added: "This was clearly a very professional operation and those
involved have made a substantial investment to convert the house -
they must have spent thousands of pounds.

"There were 40 heat lamps in total and the plants, which take about 13
weeks to grow, were almost ready for cultivation.

"This is clearly very lucrative for the dealers and they have been
unlucky - they were caught out because the hot air from the house
escaped into the cold, causing steam."

PC Martin, who worked as a horticulturalist until two years ago when
he joined the Thames Valley force, added that the gang had put
curtains up around all the windows to make sure no-one saw the 140
plants in the dining area and 391 plants in two of the bedrooms upstairs.

They also drilled through the ceiling to install a large air
extraction sytem.

PC Martin said: "From the outside, this looked just like any other
family house in the street but it had been rented out and abused by
the tenants.

"No arrests have been made yet and we are seizing any items that will
lead to the tenants' identity. We are also trying to talk to the landlord.

"Unfortunately, this practice does seem to be getting more common and
we will be checking to see if there any links with previous incidents
in Oxford.

"We would ask residents to be on the look-out for anything suspicious
- - there are tell-tale signs when these properties are being converted
to grow plants.

PC Martin said residents should look out for: A large turnover of
residents in rented properties - Curtains drawn 24 hours a day -
Occupants being secretive about arriving at the home or leaving it -
Steam or smoke emerging.

Neighbours said they were stunned that the home had been converted
into a cannabis factory.

A 68-year-old man, who lives nearby, said: "There were some Orientals
living there earlier this summer but they may have been entirely
innocent. This is a nice area and you don't expect this round here."

Linda Oliver, who lives opposite the house, added: "I am totally
shocked. Friends of ours used to own the house and it was a nice
family home but after they sold it, the house was rented out.

"About five months ago, the house was occupied by some builders from
up north but they moved out and whoever moved in after that was very
quiet. The curtains were always drawn."