TWO men who grew cannabis at their rented property have been convicted of arson, following a fire which damaged the roof and loft space.

Trevor Hall and Grant McKay, who were tenants of adjoining homes in Low Westwood, near Consett, were warned they could be facing “substantial” periods in custody, when they are sentenced at Durham Crown Court, on December 2.

It follows guilty verdicts returned by a jury to a joint charge of arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered or property damaged, which they both denied.

The court was told the fire, on February 12, was caused by an overheating power supply which led to combustible material in the loft being ignited.

Both men had cables attached to a junction box in the loft space to provide a free source of power to growths of a total of 28 cannabis plants, 25 in the loft space above Hall’s premises,.

Hall, 62, now of High Hedgefield Terrace, Ryton, 41-year-old McKay, now of Brook Avenue, Whickham, both near Gateshead, previously also admitted producing cannabis and abstracting electricity.