A MAN who was arrested after firefighters discovered a cannabis farm ablaze in Wirral has appeared in court for the first time.

Glen Hoey, of Reeds Lane, Moreton, appeared before Wirral magistrates on Wednesday where he was accused of producing cannabis and diverting close to £30,000 of electricity.

The 30-year-old has been charged in connection with the production of 91 cannabis plants following their discovery at a flat on Broadway, Bebington on October 29 last year.

He also faces a charge of dishonestly causing the waste or diversion of £28,449 worth of electricity.

Hoey did not enter a plea to the charges and will next appear at Liverpool Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on June 25.

Firefighters were called to a blaze at the first floor flat shortly before 10am last October and found a number of cannabis plants on fire. 

It was thought the blaze had been caused by an electrical fault as a result of the property’s electricity being bypassed.

After discovering more than 90 plants in the flat, officers from Merseyside Police found a further 108 plants in two rooms of an adjoining property.

Hoey remains on conditional bail until his next court date.