BAMBOO canes seized from cannabis factories will soon be turned into new homes for Dudley Zoo's tiniest residents.

West Midlands Police spotted the zoo's plea for garden canes to build more bug hotels across the 40-acre site and generously donated two huge bundles.

Lee Wilkins, from the force's Cannabis Disposal Team, said: “We regularly donate soil and garden equipment that has been seized from illegal cannabis farms to local charities and projects.

“We get a great deal of satisfaction donating seized equipment back to the community.

“As soon as we noticed the appeal on the Dudley Zoo Twitter feed for bamboo canes, we were more than happy to donate to the bug hotel."

The zoo's conservation officer, Chris Leeson, said: “We’re very grateful to West Midlands Police for thinking of us.

“The hollow stems of bamboo canes are ideal shelters for insects and provide somewhere safe for them to hibernate in over the winter.

“Thanks to the donations over the last few weeks, we can now provide more bug hotels for the thousands of insect species living across our zoo site and give them a safe haven for the coming colder months.”