A YOUTH arrested following the discovery of an alleged £1m cannabis farm in a disused bingo hall in Port Glasgow has been granted bail by a sheriff.

Lawman Michael Higgins decided to allow the 17-year-old Vietnamese national his liberty during a private calling of the petition case.

But prosecutors — whom court sources say objected to bail on grounds that the teenager is a potential flight risk — lodged an immediate appeal against the sheriff's ruling.

The move has resulted in the teenager — who turned 17 whilst in custody on Christmas Eve — remaining locked up pending an appeal hearing at the High Court today.

He and co-accused How Van Hoang, 40 — also a Vietnamese national — were arrested on December 4 last year at the former Plaza/Gala Bingo Hall on the Port's Brown Street.

Van Hoang is charged with producing cannabis within the premises between September 4 and the time of his arrest.

Both accused are said by the Crown to have been concerned in the supply of the drug.

They are also charged with intentionally bypassing an electricity meter and stealing energy to power the alleged marijuana factory.

The Telegraph told last month how the pair were arrested after community police beat officers on foot patrol stumbled upon the claimed pot farm.

A number of police vehicles were quickly on the scene, with several officers securing the building.

At the time officers were unable to say exactly how many alleged cannabis plants were inside.

However, Chief Inspector Paul Cameron estimated the potential value, subject to testing, to be in the region of a million pounds.

The accused 17-year-old made no plea through lawyer Aidan Gallagher at the court hearing.

His co-accused Van Hoang is currently remanded in custody after making no plea on an earlier date.