A COMMUNITY has been left in shock after a cannabis farm was uncovered in a town centre.

Police seized about 400 suspected cannabis plants from the former Tanning Emporium in Whitehaven’s Market Place during a raid on Wednesday.

Business owners nearby have said the shop was never open and two wedding dresses had been placed in the window.

Dale from Dale’s Shoe Repairs on Roper Street, said: “I just missed the police going in. It was about half 7, or 8 o’clock when they kicked the door in.

"You could smell it up by Albion Square. It was very strong.

“It [the shop] had them old fashioned wedding dresses in the window. They were rotten. Full of dust. It said tanning shop above but it was never open.”

It is the second cannabis grow to be uncovered in the town centre in recent years. A massive cannabis farm was found in the vacant Post Office building on Lowther Street in May 2020.

Concerns have now been raised that rundown and empty buildings in the town are attracting crime.

A member of staff from the RSPCA West Cumbria branch, which is opposite the market place shop, said: “I saw the police van outside. It’s in the middle of Whitehaven. It’s the second episode we’ve had. All the shops are falling to bits anyway so you don’t notice another one being used for things like this.”  

Rose Harrison, of Milltech Computers, said: “It used to be a beauty place but seemed to be empty for a while and then two bride’s dresses just appeared in the window.”

A member of staff from Kinsella’s greengrocers said she thought it was just a wedding shop.

Another marketplace business owner, who did not wish to be named, said: “It was a surprise but I was a bit suspicious myself. It’s a shame it’s gone on.”

Whitehaven Town councillor Graham Roberts said: “It’s shocking. I was very surprised.

“How can they afford the electricity prices in an energy crisis? Why start something like that?

“Empty shops are subject to misuse. I think it will get worse.”

Two Vietnamese men, Viet Nguyeen, 30, and Su Van Guuyen, 27, appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court yesterday to face allegations that they were illegally producing cannabis which had a potential value of more than £200,000.

The defendants have been charged with producing the Class B drug and being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

They have been remanded in custody until their next hearing at Carlisle Crown Court on October 14.

READ MORE: Men in court over alleged £200k cannabis farm in Whitehaven