A green-fingered Exmouth pensioner was left shocked after she was informed by a gardening programme that she had grown a five-foot-tall cannabis plant.
Patricia Hewitson spotted a new species of plant growing in her garden and called BBC Radio Devon's gardening programme for help identifying it.
And after receiving the information that the mystery weed, grown from bird seed, was cannabis police were informed and involved.
Mrs Hewitson, who sent a photograph of the plant to "The Potting Shed", said she had received some "interesting" emails after asking for help.
Local police have assured her she will not be prosecuted, after cultivating the healthy plant in good faith.
Mrs Hewitson said: "I sent a picture in via email and I got a couple of interesting emails back, including one from the police.
"They said they wouldn't prosecute me as I'd done it in good faith."
It is believed the cannabis plant grew from a seed which fell from the bird feeder hanging above the flowerbed.
BBC Radio Devon's gardening expert, Sarah Chesters, said: "I think the seed of this came from the bird feeder which hangs just above their door.
"It's quite common for bird seed to contain a huge variety of plant seed and cannabis has been known to come up from it."
Mrs Hewitson, from Exmouth, has now been advised to cut the plant up, take it to a police station or discard it safely on her compost heap.
Police confirmed it is illegal to grow cannabis without a licence, but said they would not pursue the matter any further because of the "mitigating circumstances".
Sgt Ryan Canning, from Devon and Cornwall Police, told The BBC: "If you come into possession of an illegal drug such as cannabis, you must either destroy it or take it to a police officer.
"The lady has committed an offence although there are mitigating circumstances so we would not look to take it further although we would take it away."BBC Radio Devon posted a question about the mystery weed on Facebook – see the reactions below.
Post by BBC Radio Devon.
