Mr Burns
08-01-2008, 04:46 PM
Crop of cannabis plants found in Tarring allotments.
POLICE made a shocking discovery among the potatoes and courgettes at West Tarring allotments – a crop of 45 cannabis plants.
Following a tip off, officers went to the allotments on Tuesday afternoon (July 29) and were seen digging up 4ft tall plants from a plot at the back of the site in Ringmer Road.
George Middlehurst, who has a plot at the site, was at the allotments when the police arrived around 3.30pm.
Mr Middlehurst, 52, said: "I went down to dig up some potatoes for my dad when a police officer came over and asked to borrow a fork to dig up some plants."
An intrigued Mr Middlehurst approached the officers and could see around 25 cannabis plants disguised by bean plants. Mr Middlehurst said the plants were on a plot at the back of the site, close to a fence which separates the allotments with the fields of Worthing College.
"They dug up all the plants and put them into plastic bags," he said. "It was a bit of a surprise. I'm surprised they were not spotted before – they were about 4ft tall."
Worthing police sergeant Nick Bowman said: "We can confirm we went to the allotments at 3.30pm on information received that someone was growing suspected cannabis plants. We attended and recovered 45 plants which we do believe are cannabis."
Asked whether finding cannabis plants outside was unusual, Mr Bowman said: "Yes, in my experience people normally have them in controlled environments, with heated lights at a specific temperature.
"It is not unheard of to have them outside, but it is not as common. Of course, being outside they are more likely to be seen."
POLICE made a shocking discovery among the potatoes and courgettes at West Tarring allotments – a crop of 45 cannabis plants.
Following a tip off, officers went to the allotments on Tuesday afternoon (July 29) and were seen digging up 4ft tall plants from a plot at the back of the site in Ringmer Road.
George Middlehurst, who has a plot at the site, was at the allotments when the police arrived around 3.30pm.
Mr Middlehurst, 52, said: "I went down to dig up some potatoes for my dad when a police officer came over and asked to borrow a fork to dig up some plants."
An intrigued Mr Middlehurst approached the officers and could see around 25 cannabis plants disguised by bean plants. Mr Middlehurst said the plants were on a plot at the back of the site, close to a fence which separates the allotments with the fields of Worthing College.
"They dug up all the plants and put them into plastic bags," he said. "It was a bit of a surprise. I'm surprised they were not spotted before – they were about 4ft tall."
Worthing police sergeant Nick Bowman said: "We can confirm we went to the allotments at 3.30pm on information received that someone was growing suspected cannabis plants. We attended and recovered 45 plants which we do believe are cannabis."
Asked whether finding cannabis plants outside was unusual, Mr Bowman said: "Yes, in my experience people normally have them in controlled environments, with heated lights at a specific temperature.
"It is not unheard of to have them outside, but it is not as common. Of course, being outside they are more likely to be seen."