Owner's anger as cannabis farm flood wrecks shop Published on Tuesday 3 April 2012 12:00 AS menus go, it is certainly one that makes gossip-hungry customers look twice. One disgruntled cafe owner decided to serve up a portion of revenge by taking to his sandwich board to blast the drugs lords who "destroyed" his business. Keith Stevenson, owner of Bonningtons Eaterie, opted to dedicate his prime promotional space to tell his customers in Clerk Street: "Cannabis Farmers Ruined My Shop." A top-floor flat three levels above him was discovered by firefighters on Saturday afternoon to be crammed with a hefty haul worth up to £200,000 after they were called to deal with water gushing into downstairs properties. A tube attached to a tap which was being used to cool the cannabis plants in the unoccupied flat had burst, causing water to flood the sink and drench the floors. Mr Stevenson's shop, which was fully refurbished only six weeks ago, bore the brunt of the leak, which is causing his ceiling to slowly crumble. Police are now looking for the culprits after confiscating around 500 cannabis plants from the property, but Mr Stevenson said he wanted to "shame" the dealers who have caused havoc to his business. The 31-year-old, from Dalkeith, said: "I spent over ten grand refurbishing it and we only opened six weeks ago, yet I've been forced to close again. The ceiling is damp, the plaster feels like mud. Firefighters had to knock two big holes in the ceiling to relieve the pressure on it. The water basically dripped down from the top flat to our shop at the bottom. This is a criminal network we're talking about. It could have been hugely dangerous to the four students who live below the cannabis flat. Can you imagine if the ceiling and floorboards above the downstairs had been in a ropey condition? He added: "I saw some guys coming out of that block six months ago, lugging suitcase after suitcase. I thought something was odd then. It was clearly one of these factories where they keep pumping out drugs until they get caught. I was told around 500 plants were crammed into five rooms. Some people in the block said they had smelled weed, but they chalked it down to students living there. One of the students living in the flat directly below the cannabis farm said they'd had "no idea" what was upstairs. Rachel Crockett, 21, a biology student, said: "Police said they'd found about 500 plants. We had never seen the people upstairs. We tried to knock on the door to get them to turn off the tap, but we got no answer. The water was dripping down the shower room walls, into the smoke alarms and electrics. It's crazy to think that was going on above us. Only two weeks ago we slipped a note through the door inviting them to our cocktail party. A police spokesman said: "Detectives are now conducting inquiries to trace those responsible for this cultivation and anyone who can assist with their investigation is asked to come forward." NEARLY 30 cannabis plants a day are recovered in the Lothians as police crack down on the gangs behind the trade in the illegal drug. Figures revealed in January showed 7635 plants were seized by police in the nine months between last April and December, with the number expected to soar by a quarter for the year. Officers recovered 7679 for the previous full year, with the cannabis valued at £1.15 million. Gangsters from China, Malaysia and Vietnam are said to be behind the majority of cannabis farm operations. Farms with more than 100 plants have been found in locations including Edinburgh, Dalkeith, Gore- bridge, Hadding- ton, Kirknewton, Livingston, Long- niddry, Penicuik, Prestonpans and Tranent. In the city, farms have been found in Gracemount Juniper Green, Craigmillar, Newhaven and Cramond. The man who would be King Kelly Cooper Barr had it all, a husband who operated the hippest bars and night-clubs in Glasgow, and access to Britain's top celebrities. She was, to anyone who listened to her at the bar of the city's trendy Apartment night-club, Scotland's self-styled It girl. Change is on the menu for a quick fix IT was August 18, 1953 in the town of Downey just 15 miles from Los Angeles when the first McDonald's burger was flipped and served to a customer in double-quick time. Suite success Photographer and writer Herbert Ypma's Hip Hotel books have redefined the travel experience. Here we feature eight of his latest discoveries, ranging in style from Zen minimal to cool kitsch and lavish historical revivalism. Destination hotels are the only stylish places to be, so don't travel - arrive The whole hog FOR starters I choose the grilled ox heart with beetroot and pickled walnut, followed by snail, sausage and chickpea; and a side order of roast bone marrow and parsley salad since the lamb's testicles appear to be off today. Ah, there's nothing like a sturdy platter of charcuterie. Tips to avoid a flood of problems HEAVY rain last week brought flooding to Dumfries and Hawick as the Met Office predicted the coldest winter for a decade. The time has arrived to batten down the hatches and ensure both your insurance and home are wind and watertight.