OWNERS of a failing narrowboat building business turned to producing cannabis in a bid to keep the firm afloat, a court heard.

Police uncovered the cannabis farm during a raid at GSG at Hixon industrial estate, near Stafford.

They found a large scale commercial operation, with numerous plants growing, said Nick Burn, prosecuting.

Officers arrested one of the owners of the business, Trevor Shore, and the widow of his deceased business partner, Dawn Green.

Mr Burn said the defendants admitted selling the crops at £3,200 a time and they had been doing it for about six months.

Along with the 480 plants still growing at the premises, it was estimated they stood to make £19,200.

Shore, aged 50, of Stone Road, Tittensor, who admitted a charge of producing cannabis between April and November last year, was jailed for nine months. Green, aged 43, of Manor Rise, Stone, was also sentenced to nine months, but Judge Michael Dudley suspended it for 12 months.

Martin Liddiard, defending, told Stafford Crown Court the partners' business was in debt to the tune of £150,000.

He said: "They embarked on a process, not to enrich themselves, but to try to support that business, which was their passion."