Three children found living in 'squalor' inside an industrial unit converted into a cannabis farm have been rescued by police.
Officers said initial enquiries suggested they had been trafficked from Vietnam into the UK and were being 'criminally exploited' to tend to the plants inside - thought to hold a street value of £850,000.
They are aged between 15 and 17.
Police said they were found to be living in 'squalid conditions' there, with just three mattresses on the floor for them to sleep on.
GMP believe the children had been living inside the cannabis farm 'for a number of months'.
A force spokesman said measures had been 'put in place by those exploiting the children to ensure they were unable to leave the premises'.
No sexes for the children have been revealed.
They are currently being supported by officers from GMP'S child criminal exploitation team alongside social services in Rochdale.
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No arrests have been made but enquiries are continuing.
Police said officers raided 'a property' on Livsey Street in Rochdale on Monday, October 14.
A photograph released by police reveals a single makeshift bed with three mattresses and pieces of chipboard being used as headboard.
Others show clothes hung up on lengths of wire over containers of chemicals and a toilet.
It's not known whether there was hot water or heating inside.
The small street is off Milnrow Road on the outskirts of Rochdale town centre.
There are a number of terraced houses on the street and what appear to be old, boarded-up factory units.
Police confirmed the children and drugs were found inside an industrial unit.
A spokesman said: "Upon discovery, officers also found three children, aged between 15 and 17, who were being criminally exploited to farm the cannabis plants.
"Initial enquiries suggest that the three children had been trafficked from Vietnam into the UK.
"They were found to be living in squalid conditions - with just three mattresses on the floor for them to sleep on.
"The children had been living at the cannabis farm for a number of months and it is believed that measures were put in place by those exploiting the children to ensure they were unable to leave the premises in case they raised any suspicions.
"No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing to identify those responsible for producing the cannabis farm and exploiting the three children."
Challenger and vulnerability officer Philip Key, from GMP's Rochdale division, said: "Tackling the exploitation of children is a priority for the police and we will do everything within our power to find those responsible and bring them into custody.
"Abusing vulnerable children for criminal gains is disgusting and our team is committed to dealing with this type of crime in all of its forms and making Rochdale - as well as Greater Manchester - a safer place.
"I want to ask that anybody with any information about this cannabis farm, or anybody who may be connected to it, to please contact us at the very earliest opportunity."
Call police on 0161 856 8487, quoting incident number 1455 of 14/10/19. Details can also be passed on, anonymously, to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
