THIS dramatic picture captures the moment a cannabis factory went up in smoke in St Paul's Cray yesterday afternoon.

Two fire engines were called to the blaze which broke out in the backyard of a house in Barnfield Road at 1.04pm.

Firefighters from Orpington and Sidcup stations managed to prevent the blaze from spreading to neighbouring houses.

The sheds were completely destroyed by the fire and crews left the scene at 1.20pm.

A 44-year-old woman was arrested at the scene on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis.

Following yesterday's blaze, Bromley Police are once again urging residents to report signs of cannabis farms, warning that the lighting equipment used poses a fire risk.

Cannabis cultivations use a large amount of heating and lighting equipment to force the plants to grow, and this poses a significant fire risk that also has the potential to impact on surrounding properties.

Chief Inspector Andy Furphy from Bromley Police said: "Cannabis cultivation is directly linked to and is a key driver for organised and violent crime, robbery, burglary and anti-social behaviour.

"There are also serious potential public safety risks in cannabis cultivation, as most factories illegally abstract large amounts of electricity needed for cultivation, sometimes in the crudest and potentially most dangerous ways.

"It is vitally important that we raise awareness of cannabis cultivation so that London's communities know what signs to look out for and can report concerns, so that they can be acted upon swiftly."

Anyone with information drug dealing in their area are urged to contact their local Safer Neighbourhoods Team, dial 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.