A COUNCILLOR has stressed the importance of community intelligence after police discovered a huge warehouse in Bradford had been housing a cannabis farm when investigating a serious assault in the same area.

Read: Man rushed to hospital as police find cannabis farm in big Bradford warehouse

The force is treating the incidents as linked and say there were five men in the area at the time.

Officers were called just after 10.15pm on Sunday to reports that a man had been attacked on Planetrees Road, Laisterdyke.

The man, in his 30s, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries, not deemed to be life-threatening.

On the same night, a drugs farm was found in a former business premises at the top of Chapman Street.

The Laisterdyke building has 18,000 sq ft of space spread out over four floors.

It is understood to have been empty ever since its long-time residents moved out in 2021.

Police cordons were in place at both locations yesterday morning while CCTV and house-to-house enquiries were being carried out.

Bradford Moor councillor Riaz Ahmed is keen to encourage people who saw any suspicious activity take place around the time to let the police know immediately.

He said: “It is happening too often (cannabis farms being found around Bradford).

“Most of the properties that they are found in are rented. The landlords should check every so often, especially these industrial premises.

“I usually go past there and I looked a couple of weeks ago and thought it had been turned into flats.

“I would appeal to anyone who saw anything suspicious on Sunday night to come forward.

“Unless people report it to the police these crimes are not going to be addressed.”

The two incidents led to concerns building among residents.

One local, who wished to stay anonymous, said: “I’m not sure what happened, but it is not nice to see all this drama unfolding on your doorstep.

“It makes you feel unsafe in your own area.”

Another passer-by, who also wished to be anonymous, added: “You do not want to see anything like this, there are kids living around here, so it is upsetting for them.

“But it is refreshing and comforting to see a police presence here. That makes us feel safer, in a way.”