A COUNCILLOR is concerned about criminal activity in his ward after cannabis farms with crops worth over £120,000 combined were found in neighbouring Great Horton homes.

On Monday, Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) officers were called to suspicious activity at an address on Welbeck Drive.

Upon arrival, a substantial cannabis grow was found in the address. The electrics were dangerously bypassed and the heat in the address was overwhelming. The pictures show the cultivation in progress.

Whilst at the address further enquiries by officers revealed that there was something amiss with the house next door too. Upon checking this out, another substantial grow was found, again with dangerously bypassed electrics.

Overall, in excess of £120,000 of cannabis has been recovered.

Cllr Tariq Hussain was surprised to discover the farms existed and credits the community and police for intervening.

He said: "I know some areas have this sort of problem, but it is not common in Great Horton and it is generally very quiet on Welbeck Drive. It is concerning that you have got this sort of issue around the area.

"I am really happy that the police have gone off some information and found these, so the culprits don't get away with it. It is good work from the police and the community. It is a very big concern because it is dangerous work (creating these cultivations). Fortunately, for everybody, they have been caught."

Another councillor from the ward Joanne Dodds shares the same concerns.

She said: "What frightens me is the danger of a fire or explosion from one of these, it is quite worrying. 

"It is good news that they have got those drugs off the street and that it is intelligence from the community. Our message to them is always if you see something suspicious or not right always report it.

"Praise must go to the police too for spotting that second house. They would have never expected that."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman added: "Cannabis cultivations can have huge impacts on those tasked with looking after them, often forced into this labour by organised crime gangs.

"Further to this, the tampering with electrics is rarely done professionally and is often seen to start fires as has been seen numerous times across West Yorkshire this year alone. Imagine that spreading to the next-door neighbour’s house, the consequences could be devastating.

"We thank the members of the community for helping us with locating these dangerous cultivations, removing drugs from the street which help to line the pockets of organised criminals and prevent harm to innocent and potentially vulnerable people. The bigger picture is much more than just cannabis on the streets."