A cannabis factory was discovered after a flat fire in Maidstone.

Around 85 cannabis plants were seized from a flat above the Marmaris off-licence and groceries store, in Mote Road, after a blaze yesterday.

Fire crews were called at 12.30pm, with four engines attending. They extinguished the fire in the roof space using hose reel jets.

The cause of the blaze is unknown. Kent Police are now investigating who is behind the factory and as of yet no one has been arrested.

The fire was reported by a neighbour who saw smoke coming out of the building from the back garden.

Residents of four nearby homes had to be evacuated and stand outside for about two hours while the blaze was put out.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "At around 12.35pm officers attended a report of a fire at an address in Mote Road, Maidstone.

"Kent Fire and Rescue Service also went to the scene where the fire was extinguished. Inside the premises, officers seized a quantity of cannabis plants and cultivation equipment.

"Nobody has been arrested at this stage and an investigation is continuing to establish who is responsible or the cannabis factory."

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to a fire in a flat above a shop in Mote Road, Maidstone at 12.30pm.

"Four fire engines and a height vehicle attended, and crews wearing breathing apparatus extinguished the fire in the roof space using hose reel jets.

"There were no reported injuries, and the cause is not known. Kent Police also attended."

The owner of Marmaris declined to comment when approached.

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