EAST Lancashire’s drug dealers have been told ‘you’re next’ after police uncovered a £200,000 cannabis factory in Lower Darwen.

Eight hundred plants were unearthed at the former Hindle Arms pub, Raikes Bridge, which police say has a street value of nearly £200,000.

Police said they made the ‘significant discovery’ after being told by residents that the building was insecure.

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On arrival they found 432 fully-grown cannabis plants and 364 cannabis seedlings. People were living aside the plants, which were in three upstairs rooms and a large function room area.

Officers went in to the building at 2.15pm on Tuesday but there was nobody inside. Forensic tests are now being carried out and police are hopeful they will identify the suspects. But as yet nobody has been arrested.

Sergeant Oliver Jones, of Blackburn police, said: “This is a professionally-built cannabis factory with lighting, heating, fans and extraction equipment. People are making a significant investment to be able to produce crops like this.

“We are targeting these people and we have have had successes over the last few months.

“Each and every person we have caught has lost their investment and found themselves in the courts.

“It’s pretty clear that cannabis factories of this size are not for personal use.

“Anybody who can assist us in identifying the people using this building should ring us on 101, quoting log number LC-20150901-0749.

“Or if anybody has information about other cannabis factories in the Blackburn area then please get in touch. All information will be treated with the utmost confidence and will be followed up on.”