POLICE on duty at Manchester's Victoria Station followed their noses to find a Darwen teenager and his friend sitting in a doorway smoking cannabis.

Blackburn magistrates heard Anthony Creighton was approached by the officers at 4.25pm and told them he had only gone to Manchester to buy drugs because it was cheaper than in Darwen.

Creighton, 19, of Westminster Close, Darwen, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and possession of a knife in a public place on June 25, last year.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with a 36 hour attendance centre order and ordered to pay £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the officers were on foot patrol when they became aware of the strong smell of cannabis.

"They followed the smell to where the defendant and another man were sitting on the steps at the entrance to Manchester Arena," said Miss Allan.

"They searched his bag and found nine snap bags containing cannabis and two cannabis grinders. They also found the knife."

Creighton told a probation officer who prepared a pre-sentence report that he travelled to Manchester to buy cannabis in bulk because it was much cheaper than buying it locally.

He said he had found the knife and put it in his bag.

Ian Huggan, defending, said his client's friend had told him not to pick up the knife.

"He accepts he was stupid to ignore that advice," said Mr Huggan. "He put the knife in his bag and there is no suggestion of anything else."