THE suspects accused of running a drugs factory in the North-East have admitted growing £100,000 worth of cannabis in a footballer's house.

Police seized more than 100 flowering cannabis plants when they raided a home owned by former Newcastle United footballer Steve Watson.

The player's million pound house had been equipped with greenhouses and powerful lamps to feed the crop.

Watson, who now plays for West Bromwich Albion in the Premiership, was renting out the property.

He has never lived there and knew nothing about the farm, said detectives.

Officers raided the house in the exclusive Darras Hall area of Ponteland, Northumberland, last December.

An address in Lemington, Newcastle, was also raided.

Police said that they had discovered "two sizeable cannabis farms - one at each address."

Andrew Deacon, 38, of Meadow Road, Lemington, and Julie Dawn French, 47, of Runnymede Road, Ponteland admitted cultivation of cannabis.

They will be sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court on September 9.

A spokesman for Steve Watson said: "Steve Watson bought this house some six years ago as an investment. He does not, and never has, lived there.