DETECTIVES have launched a hunt for the masterminds behind a drugs factory – discovered after it went up in flames.

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire in a terrace house in Havelock Place, Shelton, on Friday.

Electrical equipment used to nurture cannabis plants had sparked the blaze in the property's roof.

Fire crew from Hanley, Newcastle and Longton were sent to the fire and two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus went inside to fight the flames.

Station manager Ruth Watchorn-Rice said: "There's an increased risk of fire with cannabis factories because of all the electrical wiring.

"The fire was on the first floor and the roof and there was a lot of smoke.

"When we arrived smoke was across the whole street.

"No-one was in the property. One of the neighbours had entered through the front door and gone out through the back to check, before we arrived.

"There was fire damage to the roof space as well as the first floor landing, but the fire was stopped fairly quickly.

"The loft space is linked between the neighbouring properties, but we were able to stop it before the fire spread to any other homes."

Ansar Chaudry, who lives in Havelock Place, said: "I was asleep at the time, but someone banged on my door and woke me up.

"The house was smoking, smoke was coming from the whole first floor. Smoke covered the whole street.

"The police told us they had found cannabis plants inside.

"The house is empty. An old man lived there and he passed away.

"He left his house to his grandson, but he doesn't live here. He hasn't got a clue about it.

"I've not seen anyone use the house."

Another neighbour, who declined to be named, said: "We've not seen anyone living there, I don't know if it was squatters.

"There's quite a bit of smoke damage to the walls in my house."

Police have launched an investigation into the discovery of the cannabis.

Inspector Kevin Treacy, of Staffordshire Police, said: "The fire has been caused by electrical equipment.

"There was no-one present in the home and no-one was injured.

"The scene was sealed off for forensic officers to carry out a thorough examination.

"Cannabis plants were found in two rooms."

It is not the first time that unattended cannabis factories have sparked fires in the city.

In August last year, drug dens were discovered in Oversley Road and Oakley Place, Fegg Hayes, after the roof of one of the houses caught fire.