To mouldily go: Star Trek home invaded by fungus

Clean me up, Scotty! While Star Trek's heroes battled aliens and intergalactic villains, sci-fi fan Tony Alleyne has been waging a war on mould and fungus.

He said the flat he converted into a replica of a spaceship from the TV series has been damaged by heat and humidity from a cannabis farm in the property below.

Tony, 57, said the mould, fungus, and chalky residue on the walls of his Hinckley home were unexplained until police raided the flat below and confiscated cannabis plants and hydroponic growing equipment.

The Star Trek fan, who spent two years and £30,000 redesigning his flat along the lines of the Starship Voyager, said he had repainted the place twice in the past two years and treated mould-affected patches, only for the problem to return.

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He said: "I had no idea what was causing it but there was mould in the bathroom and the transporter. It was a nightmare.

"I've had to remove the paneling and replace some lighting. I sugar-soaped the surfaces but nothing worked.

"I've put so much time and effort into making this place just right."

Tony said the mystery was solved in November when police raided the flat below and found the drug-producing operation.

He said: "The police came and knocked on the door of the place below and took away 25 cannabis plants and the equipment.

"I couldn't believe there was something like that going on right below me.

"When the police took the hydroponics away all that stuff looked as hi-tech as my place.

"It takes a lot of heat and humidity to grow cannabis and having that going on below me was causing the problem with the mould.

"Since the raid I've cleaned up two thirds of the flat and there's been no more fungus.

"I am now re-paneling and repainting the place and, hopefully, it will be fine.

"It's probably cost a few thousand pounds to do everything and I'm not finished yet.

"In many ways I'm relieved now I know what the problem was because sometimes I would get so frustrated it would make me cry."

The flat is owned by Tony's wife Georgina. He embarked on his space-age voyage to convert it as a project to keep him busy after they split up.

A number of attempts to sell the property to Trekkies have fallen through and she is no longer looking to sell.

Tony said he was still getting interest television crews who wanted to film in his unusual home.

He said: "A French crew came and saw the problems I was having with the mould.

"They even filmed me going to Focus in Hinckley to buy paint to try to sort it.

"I am so pleased it's all sorted and that I can just get on with living here.

"It's not everyone's ideal home but it's perfect for me."

Police confirmed that they had executed a drugs warrant and found 25 plants and growing equipment.

They said a 31-year-old man had been arrested and released on bail pending further inquiries.