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A mischievous campaigner has revealed he has been secretly growing cannabis in a town's award-winning public flower displays - for the last two decades.

The bright petals and leaves hanging in various baskets and tubs have adorned Glastonbury in Somerset for generations.

But a cheeky hemp shop owner has revealed he has spent 18 years boosting the displays - with his own seeds.

The man - who changed his name by deed poll to Free Cannabis - planted some seeds in a tub outside his hemp shop.

(Image: SWNS)

They suddenly spurted but he has been left 'outraged' after the council pulled up the plant they had unwillingly watered for two decades.

The police and the council acted after a member of the public alerted the authorities to the illegal cannabis plant in Glastonbury, Somerset.

Mr Cannabis, runs Hemp in Avalon near the display on Glastonbury's High Street.

He said: "I and others come along and drop the seeds into the tubs, they get watered by nature - and the council.

“I am amazed that people get so excited about this, it's a sad reflection of society's hemp-phobia.

(Image: SWNS)

“This is a plant that has so many medicinal qualities - it's a food, it's used for fibre and fuel - it basically gives you everything you need."

PC Stuart Ball, Beat Manager for Glastonbury said: "The small, single plant was removed by the council on Tuesday, having been found in a council-owned basket.

"Cannabis is a controlled substance and we would take a vigorous approach to anyone found growing it for supply purposes."