DEALERS who operated a "considerable drug supply enterprise" from a caravan at an upmarket New Forest family holiday park have been jailed.

Police stumbled across the caravan when they were called out to an unrelated incident at the Shorefield park in Milford on Sea, Lymington on March 1 2016.

Three men were inside when officers arrived, including Jack Edwards, of Alder Road in Poole.

As police searched the caravan, Lee Veale, of Twyford Way in Poole, drove up in a hired black Peugeot.

When he saw officers, he pulled away and parked the vehicle elsewhere on the site, where it was discovered the following morning.

A search of the car revealed a sock containing 83.3 grams of cannabis resin.

Police later discovered through ANPR hits that Veale had driven the Peugeot to Liverpool and back again on the same day.

He had also been issued with a speeding ticket on the M6 during his journey.

Detectives then searched Veale's home, as well as an address in Cornish Gardens, Bournemouth. They discovered 'dealers' lists' of names in both addresses. The lists had the defendants' fingerprints on them.

On Friday, both men appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentence after Edwards, 24, was convicted of being concerned in the supply of a class B drug following a trial.

Veale admitted the same charge on the grounds that he had gone to Liverpool to buy just the three ounces of cannabis found in the sock - a claim a judge said “beggars belief”.

It was heard that police found a total of 877.15 grams of cannabis in the caravan in resin, skunk and herbal forms.

The street value is between £4.940 and £6,960.

Kevin Hill, mitigating for Veale, said the defendant had “settled down” since his arrest.

“His offending history is related to his alcohol addiction,” Mr Hill said.

“He replaced that addiction with using cannabis. Up to the time of this case and during the time of this case, he reports using £30 to £40 [of cannabis] per day."

Robert Grey, acting for Edwards, said the father-of-three now has a steady job as a roofer.

“He has taken steps to turn his life around since his arrest in March last year," Mr Grey said.

However, Judge Peter Johnson said both men had a “significant role” in dealing drugs.

"It is quite clear this was a caravan which was, temporarily at least, being used as part of a considerable drug supply enterprise," the judge said.

Veale was sentenced to 13 months in prison and Edwards to 14 months.

The defendants' partners, who were both in court for the hearing, burst into loud sobs as the two men were led to the cells.