Five men have been arrested after a cannabis farm was found above a shop on Chestergate.
The drugs were found over two floors above the former Rapture shop on the town centre shopping street.
Police were called yesterday (Tuesday) at 3.05pm by a member of the public who suspected cannabis was being grown.
Officers obtained a warrant to gain entry to the property last night.
They arrested five men who were today being held in custody.
Today firefighters carried out checks to make sure the building was safe for the police to carry out their investigation.
This afternoon crime scene investigators and police officers from Macclesfield have gone into the property to take samples and other evidence before dismantling and bringing out the plants.
Sgt Adam Alexander, who was at the scene, said: "We were alerted by a member of the public who suspected there may be cannabis being grown in the shop.
"We obtained a warrant to gain entry last night.
"This morning a team of firefighters went into the property to check it's safe.
"With cannabis sometimes growers use chemicals and fertilisers and we need someone to identify those chemicals and check it's not hazardous before we go in."
Sgt Alexander said there's no risk to the public.
He added: "It's surprising to have found the farm here right in the middle of Chestergate, given how many people use the car park at the back of the shop and how many people walk past the shop on a daily basis.
"This warrant is a result of a member of the public contacting us. As we have said before we want people to get in touch with us if they suspect something is happening in their area."
