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A Northampton landlord had to flee from his own nightclub last week after discovering criminals had broken in and set up a cannabis farm during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Landlord Paul Kuznecovs says he only stopped by the Aura cocktail bar in Gold Street on Friday (April 24) to take fresh pictures for his insurers.

But instead, he entered his property's cellar to find amateur ventilation ducts and heat lamps suspended from the ceiling - and row after row of cannabis plants growing on taupaulin sheets.

Landlord Paul Kuznecovs had to run from his own nightclub last week after discovering criminals had set up a cannabis factory on site.

Paul told the Chronicle & Echo: "The first thing I noticed when I went down the stairs was how hot it was. I thought, 'what's going on?' And then, all of a sudden, there it was.

"I was stunned. I stopped to take a picture - before I realised there might still be people down there with me.

"I just turned and ran away. Criminal gangs are dangerous people and I was frightened. I ran out and called the police immediately."

Northamptonshire Police arrived at the nightclub within minutes and uncovered the operation.

Northamptonshire Police found more than 100 plants growing in the cellar of the Gold Street nightclub

They found how the nightclub's doors and a fire escape had been boarded up to prevent entry. The electric metre had been bypassed to power the lamps and heating systems off-grid, and mattresses and clothes suggested the perpetrators had been sleeping on site.

Paul's previous tenants had left the Aura bar at the beginning of the lockdown at the end of March. Mr Kuznecovs visited the property at the time, where nothing was out of order.

It has led him to believe a gang used the quiet of the coronavirus lockdown to break into the nightclub and set up the factory under his nose.

"They've caused so much damage," said Paul. "They've done all this in a matter of two or three weeks.

Paul managed to take two photos of his discovery - before he realised there could have been criminals down in the factory with him.

"And all this has happened during the Covid-19 outbreak. It's the last thing I could do with."

Paul is now concerned gangs have used other businesses throughout Northampton to set up drugs operations during the lockdown, and is urging other landlords to check on their properties.

Northamptonshire Police are investigating the cannabis factory. No arrests have been yet been made.

Criminals abuse lockdown quiet to set up cannabis farm in Northampton's Aura nightclub