A CANNABIS factory in a loft conversion has gone up in smoke.

Just after 8.30am, crews rushed to a home in Shernhall Street, in Walthamstow, as a fire threatened to engulf the top floor of a terraced house.

Forcing their way in, the brigade found an empty house and a fire in a loft, converted into a cannabis factory.

The fire was under control within an hour.

Searching the property, police officers found a number of cannabis plants and have begun an investigation.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

In the minutes before the fire crews arrived, some neighbours did their best to alert anybody who might have been inside.

Melanie Briggs said she was banging on the front door for "ages" before the fire brigade turned up and knocked it down.

She added: “No one answered.

“One of the neighbours tried to knock the door down with a lump of concrete, bless him.”