AN asylum-seeker from Vietnam is accused of being involved in the factory farming of cannabis plants at a house in a North-East village.

Quang Xuan Vu, 25, is charged with conspiracy to produce a controlled class C drug.

It follows the recovery of propagating equipment, 1.87 kilograms of cultivated cannabis leaves and 400 seedlings in the loft of a house in Collingwood Street, Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Mr Xu was remanded in custody when the case went before South Durham magistrates last Thursday, but a bail application was made on his behalf by barrister Warren Grier at Durham Crown Court, yesterday.

Judge Peter Armstrong granted the application on condition that Mr Xu lives with his wife, at the address at Collingwood Street, and reports regularly to a police station.

The case is scheduled back before crown court tomorrow, for a preliminary hearing.