A MAN was arrested after a fire broke out a "cannabis farm" in Atherton.

Firefighters were called to a first-floor flat in Peak Avenue, Hag Fold, at just before 2am yesterday.

They discovered what fire officers described as a cannabis farm in the flat and put out a fire, which caused smoke damage to the living room and kitchen.

A Fire Service spokesman said: "There appeared to be a cannabis farm in operation at the property and it was evident that the fire had started because of an attempt to bypass the electricity supply.

"We would remind people not to attempt to do this as it could endanger not only their lives, but also the lives of their neighbours and the emergency services."

Police were called to the flat and arrested a 43-year-old man on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and abstracting electricity.