Investigations continue after cannabis plants found in Barrow's Antalya

Police have comfirmed that enquiries are ongoing after cannabis plants and growing paraphernalia were discovered at Antalya takeaway in Barrow’s Duke Street on April 23.

Officers carried out a raid on the unused building weeks before firefighters spent hours tacking a major blaze at the same location.

A spokeswoman for Cumbria police has since confirmed that they have no further update and enquiries are ongoing into the incident.

The mayor of Barrow and county councillor for Old Barrow, Councillor Helen Wall, is urging the public to report any information to the police.

She said: “This is Barrow and people know what is going on.

"If someone knows something important they should contact the police about it.

"It could all be kept confidential and anonymous.

"This is not the sort of thing we want happening in the town.

"So, anyone who saw or heard anything should come forward and tell police what they have seen or heard.”

At the time of the incident, Cllr Wall admitted that Barrow’s prevalent drug trade would likely continue despite the raid.

She said: “It is a horror that will stay with us for a long time.

"There is money to be made for people who don’t have much access to making pots of money in other ways, in my opinion, so it will go on.”

Seven fire crews were called to the building on May 6, spending two hours battling the fire which had spread through the property.

People in the neighbouring buildings and businesses were told to evacuate in case smoke spread, station manager Roger Exley said.

The fire boss, who described the incident as ‘high risk’, said a blaze had started in the ground floor and burnt upwards to the first floor.

A joint investigation between the fire service and the police is due to examine how the fire started.

Weeks earlier during a search, officers found paraphernalia believed to be used in the growing of cannabis and numerous plants which were seized.