Police have asked a landlord who owns flats in Dorset to assist with information on the tenants after a recent fire uncovered what has been described as a ‘large scale cannabis factory.

What appears unusual about the operation is that it involved a number of flats in the building in the sea side town of Boscombe.

Fire crews were alerted to the fire in the early hours of the morning when a passing police patrol saw flames in the building. An investigation is underway but it is believed the fire was probably caused by an electrical fault.

After tackling the blaze the police discovered a large supply of cannabis plants plus evidence of the paraphernalia needed to set up a factory to grow them.

This included foil over the windows large and ventilation pipes, plus the electricity meters had been tampered with.

It is believed no one was in the building at the time of the fire and detectives have asked the landlord if he can help identify the ‘tenants’ as part of the investigation.

In an interview with the local media a Dorset Police spokesman said: “Following the fire, a large scale cannabis factory, spread across a number of flats, was discovered at the address.

“A considerable number of cannabis plants were seized by officers.

“Enquiries are ongoing with the landlord and forensic examinations of the property are taking place.