A CANNABIS farm exploded in flames after a house was rewired for large-scale cultivation.

The detached house at Houldsworth Avenue, Timperley, has been left gutted by the blaze, which broke out at 10.50pm on Tuesday.

Stunned neighbours came out into the street in dressing gowns to take pictures and video footage of the fire, which police believe was caused by an electrical fault.

In images obtained by the MEN, smoke can be seen billowing from the roof before roaring flames engulfed the building.

It is believed a group of oriental men were renting the detached property, where the charred remnants of more than 500 ‘skunk’ plants were recovered by police.

The owner of the property, Lawrence Devine, 68, built and extended the house before moving to France and renting it out. Yesterday he told the MEN that he was calling in a structural engineer to see if the building could be saved.

A 32-year-old mum-of-two, who witnessed the fire but asked to remain anonymous, said: “I was sitting watching the telly and I heard noises. When I looked out I saw the fire engines and smoke.

“We all came and watched the fire, it was really big and smelt like a really good barbecue. Something was clearly feeding the flames, because the blaze was roaring.

“We very rarely saw anyone at the property, but I have thought it looked dodgy for months, because the curtains were always drawn, the windows had been blacked, and the postman said they never took any mail. Occasionally someone would come in the night with a carrier bag; we thought they might have been copying DVDs.”

Pensioner

A pensioner who lives close to the scene, who also asked to remain anonymous, described how the fire unfolded. She said: “First all there was a cracking sound like the tiles were splitting.

“Then I saw the flames coming though the roof. As the fire crews worked on one side of the house we could see flames come out over the guttering, before flaring up. It was quite something.

“I thought the house was empty because it looked neglected. If I had lived next door I think I would have known something was going on. You just don’t expect it – it’s quite a shock to hear it was a cannabis farm.”

Police Constable Johannah Connolly said: “Cannabis farms are not only illegal but also potentially fatal. It is vital that the public pass on any information they have about houses being used in this way as fires like this can quickly spread. Had this been a terraced or semi-detached property, the situation could have been far worse.”

This is the latest cannabis farm to be found on a suburban street. In January a farm was discovered following a fire at Townsfield Road, Westhoughton.

Police are now urging residents to keep an eye out for suspicious people visiting a property at strange times and large amounts of electrical wiring, light fittings, chemicals or compost being delivered to residential premises.

They are also urged to look out for bright lights kept on all night, blacked out windows, a strong smell, and excessive heat coming from the premises.

Anyone with any information about the Timperley farm or any others is asked to call the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Altrincham on 0161 856 7527 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.