IN PICTURES: Blaze breaks out at Bloxwich cannabis factory

263 cannabis plants were found growing by firefighters attending the blaze at the bottom of a two-storey property in Victoria Avenue.

The factory hindered firefighters, who had to take care over high-powered electrics and potential booby traps.

The fire broke in the early hours of Thursday at 4am.

It is believed to have been caused by low quality equipment connected to the cultivation set-up.

Police closed the High Street until 9am while crews dealt with the blaze and officers cleared up the operation.

West Midlands Fire Service spokesman Neil Spencer said: "Dealing with fires at premises where cannabis is being cultivated is a big problem for our firefighters.

"Not only are they having to deal with the fire itself, they are dealing with shoddy electrics, large amounts of power and potential booby-traps.

"In this instance, we had 10 firefighters working inside the premises wearing breathing apparatus and they all managed to deal with it safely and efficiently.

"The matter is now in the hands of the police."

High Street was closed from around 4am to 9am while police and fire crews dealt with the blaze and the clear up operation.

West Midlands Police spokesman Deb Edmonds said: "We received a call from the fire service to attend Victoria Avenue, High Street, Bloxwich, at 4.30am.

"A fire had broken out at a large scale cannabis factory.

"The building was made safe later in the morning and the road re-opened, while our cannabis disposal team destroyed the drugs later on."

Councillor Julie Fitzpatrick said the discovery was 'shocking' but praised police and fire forces for making sure no one was hurt.

She said: "I think this is an absolutely shocking discovery.

"To know that something like this is happening right under your nose is definitely a wake up call.

"We have trust that the police force will get to the bottom of this and the main thing is that no-one was hurt as a result of the fire."