A man has been arrested after a police raid on a large cannabis farm with more than 500 plants earlier today.

Officers raided the home on Upper Dicconson Street, Wigan at around 9.30am on Tuesday morning where they discovered a man on sight with around 550 cannabis plants.

The man was arrested on suspicion of cultivating class B drugs and remains on police custody while engineers remained on scene to make sure the electricity was made safe.

Greater Manchester Police Wigan district Sergeant Nick Forshaw said: “My neighbourhood officers have acted on intelligence from members of the community to target drug dealing in the area.

"This has been raised as a concern at community meetings to myself and local elected members.

"As promised, we are doing our best to bring offenders to justice and take illegal drugs out of circulation.

"We cannot do this without the support of honest members of the public who are prepared to provide information via Crimestoppers or direct to the police.”

As such, officers have appealed to anyone who is concerned about drug cultivation or about other drug related crimes in their communities to contact them by calling 101.

Alternatively, witnesses can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.