A police dog caught a suspect who fled a cannabis factory this afternoon (Sunday).
Officers were forced to give chase when a male ran from an address on Hornchurch Road, Bowerhill, Melksham, at around 1pm.
They had been deployed to the scene following a tip-off from a member of the public concerned the property may be being used to grow cannabis.
Police dog Frankie was deployed to hunt him down and the suspect was swiftly found – hiding in a bush a short distance away in Chadwick Close.
The male, who was described as aged in his 20s wearing socks but no shoes, was reportedly detained, stripped of some of this clothing and searched.
The man was arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation. He remains in custody for questioning.
The house is being guarded by police ahead of forensic enquiries being carried out, and the subsequent dismantling of the setup.
PC Chloe Edwards said: “We have been able to make this discovery and arrest thanks to the member of the public who reported it to us.
“Community intelligence such as this is vital and please rest assured that we will always take reports of illegal drug production seriously.
“Cannabis production is not a victimless crime – it has considerable knock-on effects relating to exploitation, modern slavery and human trafficking.
“The farms are also often run by organised crime gangs who exploit the vulnerable and damage local communities.
“If you have concerns over drugs in your area, please get in touch with us on 101.”
