Court that became cannabis farm to turn into flats

A disused court building that was being used to house a cannabis farm will now become flats.

Halton Magistrates' Court, next to Runcorn's Shopping City, has been closed since 2017.

Four years later, about 1,000 cannabis plants were discovered inside the building, which sits next door to a police station.

Now, plans to convert it into at least 10 flats have been backed by Halton Council, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The application has been lodged by Staffordshire-based MLU Properties.

The paperwork to go before planners said that "the building as a whole is proposed to be re-purposed instead of erecting a brand new building", adding this would "ensure a sustainable design ethos".

The court was one of 86 closed as part of a review by the Ministry of Justice under the previous Tory government, It said the closures were part of a £700m "modernisation" plan to "make justice more efficient".

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.