Two men have been found guilty of conspiring to supply cannabis through a controversial café.

Michael Allday, 44, of Leconfield Road, Lancing, and Lee Russell, 40, of Ethelwulf Road, Worthing, were convicted by a jury yesterday, ending a battle with police that began in January 2007.

The Hole In The Wall café in Freshbrook Road, Lancing, was a thorn in the side for police in the town for more than two years.

Defences, including a wall of tyres, were put up around the converted industrial unit, foiling a string of attempts by police to get inside.

The building was finally repossessed in April.

Wendy Edwards, 40, of Haybourn Road, Brighton, and Sebastian Flynn, 20, of Ringmer Road, Worthing, pleaded guilty to the same charge on the first day of the trial at Kingston Crown Court.

Paul Bradley, 33, of Loder Gardens, Worthing, was found not guilty. The four convicted defendants were released on bail and are due to be sentenced on January 15.

Detective Sergeant Jason Turner, of Sussex Police, said: “This result is very satisfying for all the officers that have worked on the case that has been long and protracted.

“A full range of police tactics were deployed to disrupt and dismantle an organised crime group distributing and profiting from the sale of cannabis.

“By shutting the café the community has been allowed to return to normality and the dealing of drugs removed from their doorstep.”