Tenants from hell are turning more and more homes into cannabis factories as Hounslow's drugs crisis spirals out of control.

Already this year, five landlords have complained to Hounslow Council after their properties were wrecked by tenants of south-east Asian origin.

Deputy council leader Mark Bowen this week warned landlords to be on their guard as it emerged Hounslow Police closed 25 cannabis factories in the year to April.

"Our advice to landlords is to ensure you do proper checks on tenants and make visits every six to eight weeks," he said. "Small signs, like curtains being pulled during the day, can indicate wrongdoing."

The warning comes too late for Furkan Javaid, whose former family home in Bath Road was gutted by drugs fiends leaving him with a £45,000 repair bill.

"This couple were literally turning over thousands of pounds each week with the drugs they were growing,"  said Mr Javaid.

Hounslow Council is offering grants to help landlords affected by the problem bring their properties back into use. Call 020 8583 3869 to find out if you could benefit. Any landlord who suspects their property is being used to manufacture drugs should call Hounslow Police in confidence on 020 8577 1212 or email tx-biu@met.pnn.police.uk