Local police look very pleased with themselves - naturally - after the discovery of what they have called a cannabis 'farm' in the former Emmanuel Methodist Church manse on Friday.

But is there more to this story than meets the eye?

It's very rare that we delete a news item but after posting the initial report with photos early Saturday morning reporter Roger Blaxall was called by the tenant offering his side of the story.

A quick check with the busy police PR office on Monday (one member of staff there demurred from calling it a cannabis 'farm') and referred me via email to Ch Insp Ian Jones and Act. Insp Ellie Kanoun who edits the local police FB pages.

CI Jones confirmed its investigations are continuing; LFRS tipped off the force after a fire there on Friday afternoon - Blaxall wondered why two bobbettes were parked at the front of the church long after the fire had been extinguished … now he knows why.

Yesterday lunchtime, he received a long, detailed email off the tenant and warned him that his side of the story probably won't be told in The Champ or Advertiser just yet although both are sure to report the fire and its aftermath; whether they come up with such a snappy headline remains to be seen...

Here's the original Police FB statement: 'Yesterday we were called to a fire at an address on Derby Street, Ormskirk. The blaze was started by overloading plug sockets to illuminate the cannabis farm inside. 70 cannabis plants were seized along with a number of other items. Enquiries are ongoing to trace the tenant but thankfully the dog from the address was recovered with only very minor injuries.'