Organised gangs in China are undermining UK government attempts to control the multi-million pound trade in so-called legal highs, a BBC investigation has revealed.

The BBC team found chemical labs in China routinely send legal highs to the UK using courier services.

One laboratory said it sends drugs in packages described as "birthday gifts".

Legal highs are chemicals designed to mimic the effects of illegal drugs such as cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy.

A councillor has called for a review into drug laws after a cannabis factory was found in the loft of a city home.

Marijuana plants were discovered by police officers called to deal with a house fire in Bradville last week.

Reacting to the news, Councillor Brian White said: “It’s not surprising.

“It could happen anywhere in the country - the fact it was in Milton Keynes is a pure coincidence.

“People will find ways of doing it if they want to.”

Mr White, who represents Bishopstone in Bradville where the drugs were found, believes the current laws are “confusing”.

On 12th October, the petition to legalise cannabis will be debated by the UK Parliament. It presently stands at just under 220,000 signatures, the third biggest petition on the government's website and demonstrates a revival of interest in this long running issue.

Within the last few days, CLEAR Cannabis Law Reform passed the milestone of 500,000 followers on social media. It is now one of the biggest pressure groups in the UK on any subject and one of the leading drug policy reform groups in the world, exceeding even generously-funded US groups. CLEAR is run entirely by volunteers. It exists on a shoestring budget, funded only by membership fees and donations.

Scotland Yard wants to monitor Britain’s power network so it can locate cannabis farms, The Times has learnt.

Officers hope to investigate spikes in electricity usage that could be caused by production of the Class B drug on housing estates and in industrial areas.

The move comes amid concern that half a million people are secretly growing cannabis in their homes. Already more than 650 cannabis farms are discovered every month across England and Wales, and the numbers have grown steadily over the past decade.

A WAREHOUSE worker who admitted possessing cannabis so he could deal the drug was spared jail after a judge saw his positive work reference.

Nathan Wilkins, 25, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply the Class B drug.

Oxford Crown Court was told that Wilkins, of Chetwode, Banbury, was arrested by police on May 6 when he was riding his bike.

Cathy Olliver, prosecuting, told the court on Thursday that officers found him carrying three wraps of cannabis.

She said: “At home they found two Tupperware tubs containing cannabis, and notepaper showing numbers in columns and cash amounts.”

Ms Olliver said officers found about £350 worth of skunk cannabis.

George Hutchings is living proof that cannabis does not cause harm to humans and society!

It was a week ago today I presented George Hutchings story – read here if you missed it. If you remember from watching the video how cannabis helps him live his daily life, which otherwise would be impossible due to the rare illness he has, we realise how cannabis is really not harmful to humans and society.

Nick Clegg is launching a campaign to persuade EU leaders to back global reform of drugs laws, warning that the current punitive approach has failed to curb the multibillion trade in illicit substances and has criminalised millions of young people.

The problem of legal highs sales "has not gone away" in Taunton despite a localised ban being brought in last year, a council report said.

Last year, police closed down one shop by using the new legal powers and a second shop opted to stop selling them.

Taunton Dean Borough Council's report said emergency hospital admissions had not fallen with a number "every week".

Police also said a network of suppliers had evolved with users buying them in Bridgwater to sell them on estates.

'Moved the problem'

Although the sale and use of legal highs is within the law nationally, police have used new powers which came into force in the town, last October.

A cannabis farmer jailed for four years for operating drug factories with his next door neighbour has been told to pay £21,000 or face more time behind bars.

Police found more than 60 cannabis plants when they raided the properties which were both owned by Carl Berry in Primrose Bank, Langley, in April last year.

Berry, who was described as the leader of the operation, was jailed for a total of four-and-a-half years after admitting producing cannabis and possession of the drug with intent to supply in July last year.

At the time, police said the operation could have been worth £70,000.

Carl Berry