Merseyside Fire and Rescue was called to a house on Mostyn Street in Wallasey on 1 May 2025 after reports of a fire.[1] After the fire was put out and the house was deemed safe, officers found a large cannabis farm hidden inside the property.[1] An investigation was under way to locate the people involved in growing the cannabis, with police appealing for information.[1]

Officers recovered 170 plants, while many more plants were believed destroyed in the fire.[1] Police believed up to four growing rooms were destroyed in the fire.[1]

Matt Brown, who leads Merseyside Police’s Cannabis Dismantling Team, said cannabis farms endanger nearby residents, especially when criminals tamper with wiring and overload plugs, creating risks of fire and flooding.[1] He said organised crime damages communities through intimidation and violence, with those involved thinking of no one but themselves.[1] Police said telltale signs of cannabis being grown inside a property include strange smells, sealed windows and birds gathering on the roof in cold weather.[1]