Police have apologised after wrongly raiding a young family’s home believing a cannabis farm was inside.

Darren Daly said up to eight police officers swooped on his home and searched for drugs, frightening his girlfriend Amanda and their two young children.

Part-time DJ Darren, of Manor Street, Accrington, said the actions of the police had left his neighbours thinking he was a drug dealer.

He said: “They completely humiliated us. I was half asleep when I heard all this noise, but my girlfriend Amanda and our daughter Madison and son Dexter were downstairs and frightened for their lives when it happened.

“Someone has really messed up.

“It’s terrible they have done this, especially because there are kids involved. It’s shocking and shouldn’t have happened.”

Darren, 28, said he told officers there was no chance of  them finding drugs but said they continued to believe their information was correct.

He said: “I can remember hearing a series of knocks on the door and loud voices. The next thing I knew eight police officers were in my house. They told me they had a warrant to search for a cannabis farm and were convinced the information they had was right. They continued searching and asking me lots of questions despite me telling them they had no chance of finding anything.”

He added: “Hearing another man’s voice and then people in your home is not the first thing you expect in the morning. I was confused but relieved it was the police and nothing worse.

“It’s also a waste of the taxpayers’ money. A lot of officers must have worked to get the information, the warrant and then to actually come to my house.

“I’ve not got the highest self esteem at the moment as I’m out of work. But now, thanks to this, all my neighbours will think I’m a drug dealer.”

The incident took place at about 10am on Friday, July 19.

Detective Inspector Mark Winstanley, of Hyndburn CID, confirmed officers had been to Mr Daly’s home address.

He said: “We are committed to tackling the problem of drugs within our communities and when we receive information on drugs we will always take action.

“On this occasion officers attended an address with a warrant as we had received information that cannabis was being grown at the address.

“Officers did not force entry and spoke with Mr Daly who allowed them entry to the address.

“Once inside the house the officers quickly established that drugs were not being grown there. Having done so they explained their reasons for attendance to Mr Daly and apologised to him for any inconvenience that may have been caused to him or his family as a result of the action that had been taken.”