A dawn raid at a house in Astley Bridge on Sunday resulted in the seizure and destruction of a substantial cannabis cultivation. The operation, carried out by the Bolton North Neighbourhood Team at a property on Hill Cot Road, uncovered a converted grow room containing 113 cannabis plants.
Police said the plants were seized and have now been destroyed while enquiries continue to determine who was responsible for running the operation. No arrests have been reported at this stage.
"Inside the property, officers discovered that it had been converted into a cannabis farm. A total of 113 cannabis plants were seized and have now been destroyed. Enquiries are ongoing to identify those responsible."
What police are asking of the public
Officers are appealing for information from local residents who might have seen anything suspicious around the property in the days and weeks before the warrant. They have reiterated that people can pass on information anonymously to the independent charity CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.
- Raid location: Hill Cot Road, Astley Bridge
- Number of plants seized: 113
- Current status: Plants destroyed; enquiries ongoing; no arrests reported
Local context — part of a wider enforcement effort
Officers emphasised this was one of several recent raids across Bolton targeting cannabis cultivation. Earlier in the year, Bolton’s Town Centre Neighbourhood Team dismantled a large-scale operation discovered on Newport Street on 23 December 2025. That inquiry involved analysis of CCTV and identified a vehicle visiting the premises; two men were subsequently prosecuted and are due to be deported after serving custodial sentences.
| Operation | Location | Plants seized |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday warrant | Hill Cot Road, Astley Bridge | 113 |
| December warrant | Newport Street, town centre | Not disclosed in source |
For residents the immediate impacts are twofold: the removal of an illegal grow from a neighbourhood property, and an ongoing investigation that may prompt further enforcement activity. The neighbourhood policing teams have stressed neighbourhood safety and urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.
Anyone who saw suspicious activity near Hill Cot Road around the time of the warrant, or who has information about cannabis cultivation in Bolton, is asked to contact CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
