Cannabis factory found in disused Glenluce hotel

A member of the public has helped unearth an "industrial size" cannabis factory in a disused village hotel.

Officers were sent to the Glenluce Hotel in the west of Dumfries and Galloway after reports from a "concerned member of the community".

They found about 2,000 cannabis plants when they searched the property under warrant on Wednesday.

The find was made on the same day police were holding a conference to raise awareness of such factories.

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary is also investigating a cannabis plant crop with a potential street value of about £40,000 which was found dumped close to Bankfield Farm, also in Glenluce, on Monday.

Police said it was too early to link the incidents but have appealed for information about the drug finds.

Det Insp Gary Coupland said: "At this stage we are still gathering evidence although there is no doubt that this is a large scale cannabis factory.

"Enquiries are now taking place to identify those responsible for this factory.

"No-one was found in the premises when it was searched."

He appealed to the local community to report any sightings of anyone seen going into the premises over the past few months.