A British man was today being held by Spanish police after more than £500,000 of cannabis was allegedly found stashed in his car.

Anthony Kelly, 49, appeared in court in the northern city of Santander yesterday accused of planning to import the drugs to the UK.

Kelly was due to board a Plymouth-bound ferry just hours after he was arrested by Spanish drug squad detectives on Wednesday June 15.

The country’s National Police allegedly recovered 171kg of cannabis, worth £513,000 had it been sold on the street.

Kelly was held after he returned to his Santander hotel in a taxi in the early hours of Monday morning.

After searching his Vauxhall Astra, which was parked outside the hotel, officers from Madrid’s specialist organised crime unit allegedly discovered a haul of 681 packages hidden in secret compartments, including a "false floor".

Kelly was booked on a car ferry leaving Santander hours later for Plymouth.

He was today being held on remand following a behind-closed-doors appearance before an investigating judge in the Atlantic port city.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the arrest of a British national in Spain on June 15 and consular assistance is currently being provided."