POLICE are investigating after the remains of a cannabis factory were found dumped in the New Forest.

Heaters and fans, plus a small quantity of the class B controlled drug, were among a large number of items abandoned in King's Hat Inclosure at Beaulieu Road, Brockenhurst.

It comes just three months after cannabis plants and other items were dumped by fly-tippers at another beauty spot in the Forest.

More than 30 sacks of waste found beside the B3054 near Lymington were removed in a two-day operation thought to have cost taxpayers at least £350.

The latest fly-tipping is being investigated by Hampshire police and Forestry England, which is also looking into a similar incident that was reported to the authority the next day.

Bags containing a raft of items, including carpets, household waste and building materials, were discovered at Bull Hill, Pilley.

A Forestry England spokesperson said: "We have collected and removed the contents of the two fly-tips, which weighed a total of 900kgs. A real mix of things were dumped, including cannabis remains."

Following the King's Hat incident police urged anyone with information about the culprits to come forward and “rat on a rat”.

Several people turned to social media to voice their anger at the Bull Hill fly-tipping after photographs posted online showed a sofa and bags of waste littering the site.

One person posted: “Disgusting. These people have no respect for our beautiful countryside. Totally mindless.”

Forestry Journal:

The New Forest and other rural areas in southern Hampshire have seen a spate of fly-tipping incidents in the past few weeks.

As reported in the Daily Echo, waste was dumped at three locations in the Test Valley last weekend.

Rubbish was abandoned at Misslebrook Lane in North Baddesley and Coldharbour Lane in Lee. The third incident took place in Bunny Lane, Romsey, which is only 200 metres from a household waste recycling centre.

Cllr Nick Adams-King said: "These fly-tips are absolutely disgusting.

"Test Valley Borough Council will forensically examine the rubbish and if we find any evidence of the selfish, thoughtless, ignorant people who dumped it we will prosecute."

(Originally reported in the Bournemouth Daily Echo)