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Officers have arrested a man, following the discovery of cannabis farm in Bootle earlier this week, thought to be worth in excess of £1.6 million.

The farm was discovered on Tuesday, 22 January, after officers noticed a man acting suspiciously outside a disused furniture shop at the junction of Beresford Street and Derby Road. Officers then arrested the man and searched the address, where they discovered 414 plants across three rooms alongside a large amount of growing equipment.

The man, aged 36 from Dingle, was arrested on suspicion of cannabis cultivation and has since been released under investigation.

The plants have since been recovered and the scene forensically examined.

Cannabis Dismantling Team Manager, Matt Brown: “This cannabis farm was recovered following a stop check and this is one example of how this power can help put a stop to criminality in our communities.

“Criminal groups involved in the growing of cannabis are often involved in other serious organised crime and don’t care about the harm these drugs cause to the most vulnerable people in our society.

“Nobody wants to live or work next door to these places and we would ask that if you believe someone is using a property for this purpose, please tell us so we can take positive action and find those responsible for setting them up.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via @MerPolCC or by contacting 101. You can also contact @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A Sefton Council-owned residential care home is set to play an important role in helping to reduce the pressure on local hospital beds at busy times.

James Dixon Court on Harrops Croft in Netherton will provide care to enable older patients to vacate beds after treatment prior to returning home, and also to prevent them needing to go into hospital in the first place.

The development is a partnership between New Directions who operate the care home, Sefton Council and NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

It is part of a relaunch of James Dixon Court, a purpose-built, 30-bed home for the over 65s which New Directions took over from another operator in February last year.

The new arrangement was officially unveiled at an event at the home attended by representatives of the partner organisations and other healthcare professionals.

Commenting on the development New Directions Managing Director, Mark Fox, said: “The issue of older patients occupying hospital beds due to a lack of suitable care elsewhere is one of the most serious challenges facing the NHS, especially during the busy winter months.

“Thanks to some innovative joint working between Sefton Council who have commissioned the service, the CCG and New Directions, from now on James Dixon Court’s facilities will help to ease the problem.

“It’s good news for our local hospitals and good news for patients who can leave hospital sooner and recover and rehabilitate in a homely, supportive and caring environment.”

The services provided by James Dixon Court will include transition beds allowing patients to leave hospital earlier and receive extra care prior to returning home, and also providing patients with short-term care rather than them being admitted to hospital.

James Dixon Court will also continue to offer long-term accommodation to some residents, while also providing reablement beds which will help patients to regain their life skills and confidence, and thus to return home and continue living independently.

Speaking at the relaunch event, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Cllr Paul Cummins, offered a warm welcome to the development.

He said: “We are very proud of this joint initiative between Sefton Council, New Directions and our CCG heath colleagues for the benefit of Sefton residents.

“Along with offering high-quality support to older residents, we will ensure that vulnerable people do not have to make long-term decisions about their future care from a hospital bed.

“Although this new service has only been up and running for a few weeks it has already had an impact on delayed transfers of care, and everyone involved will now be working very hard to make sure it goes from strength to strength.”

Fiona Taylor, Chief Officer of NHS South Sefton CCG, said: “The development is a really good example of how our Shaping Sefton vision for more joined-up working between health and social care is starting to make a real difference to the lives of some of our most vulnerable residents, so they can be cared for in the right place at the right time.”