Two arrested after house fire exposes cannabis factories

TWO people in their 50s have been arrested after police found cannabis factories in two houses just doors apart.

The drug dens were discovered in Oversley Road and Oakley Place, Fegg Hayes, after the roof of one of the houses caught fire.

Police found a cannabis factory inside the Oversley Road property after firefighters extinguished the blaze at around 4am yesterday.

Officers had earlier discovered a cannabis factory in Oakley Place after the occupant of the fire-hit house was seen running to that address by firefighters.

They later arrested a man and a woman.

Now police are trying to establish if the house fire was caused by the heat from the cannabis factory. It is understood that high-powered lights are used to create temperatures of around 85 degrees to help the plants grow.

Next-door neighbour Pam Harrison today said she was lucky to be alive after a neighbour called to say the adjoining house was on fire.

The 61-year-old grandmother-of-one, who has lived in the house with husband John, aged 62, for 33 years, said: "I could hear a noise from next door and it sounded like someone was moving furniture around. By 1am the noise was getting worse and I thought about mentioning it the next day.

"The next thing we had a phone call from a neighbour telling us to get out of the house as the roof was on fire."

The fire, which started at 2am, destroyed half of the neighbouring roof, but the Harrisons were allowed back in their home at 4am.

The mother-of-three added: "This could have been a lot worse, and we are waiting to hear if we need a new roof.

"If everyone had been asleep and not noticed, this could have been worse."

Firefighters from Longton, Biddulph and Burslem took two hours to bring the fire under control.

Firefighter Steve Norris said: "We had smoke and flames coming from the roof of the property, and had to stop the fire spreading to the neighbouring property."

Chief Inspector Peter Hall, from Stoke-on-Trent Police Division, said: "It's too early to confirm that the fire was caused by the growing of the plants. It is one of the lines of inquiry currently under investigation."

He added: "I urge anyone with concerns about an address where they live to get in touch."

Anyone with information should call Staffordshire Police on 0300 1234455 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.



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