Cannabis factory found after fire in city pub

Officers investigating a fire at a former city pub uncovered a cannabis factory, police said.

Roads were closed after a blaze started at the Cat and Fiddle on Magdalen Street in Norwich at about 14:50 BST on Thursday.

"Crime scene investigators and fire investigators found 40 cannabis plants and hydroponics equipment in the building," said a statement from Norfolk Police.

The fire brought part of the city to a standstill. Neighbouring buildings were evacuated.

Norfolk Police said no arrests had been made and officers were "continuing to investigate the discovery".

Fire crews were stood down just after midnight on Friday, after using a thermal imaging camera to check for hotspots.

Chloe Ponsford, 21, lives in another flat in the building.

She said she was woken up by police and had to leave her flat for about three hours.

"Our house was covered in smoke," she said.

"The whole street was covered in smoke you couldn't see anything.

"We had water coming over our house because they were hose-piping our house as well.

"I was so scared.

"My boyfriend ran home from work and he couldn't get through because all the tape and everything was everywhere.

"It was so scary... the flames came over the house."

Magdalen Street has reopened, but a cordon remained in place. No-one was injured in the fire.

Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil.

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