SECURITY dogs which have recently started patrolling Wellington’s most dangerous derelict site have been deployed to catch their first trespassers.

Former jockey Craig Baker has been allowed to use Tonedale Mill as a training ground for his Westcountry K9s security and search and rescue dog business in exchange for providing site security.

And after only a fortnight he put one of his dogs into action when he received a call that three men had been seen entering the mill site.

Mr Baker said: “On arrival, a K9 was deployed, finding all three men in under one minute.

“We would like to say ‘thank you’ to our community in supporting us in keeping the mill safe.”

Mr Baker said the trio had apparently broken into the mill buildings in order to smoke cannabis and to explore the property.

He said they were escorted off the premises via an exit he has named the ‘humiliation gate’, which meant they could be publicly seen to leave.

Security dog trainer Craig Baker is helping to tidy up the derelict Tonedale Mill site in Wellington in exchange for being allowed to train his dogs there.
Security dog trainer Craig Baker is helping to tidy up the derelict Tonedale Mill site in Wellington in exchange for being allowed to train his dogs there. (Craig Baker)

Mr Baker said: “We are now adding outer, high spiked fencing all around the site.

“See it, report it, K9 will sort it.”

Mr Baker said he also had work available on the site for two weeks which would involve moving bricks and rubble, cutting a tree stump, clearing a stream, tidying glass, moving boards, and trimming hedges.

He said anybody interested would require hi-viz clothing and steel toe cap boots and he would prefer to hire local people if possibe.

However, there would not be any access to roam the buildings, because they were unsafe.

The former woollen factory closed more than 25 years ago and has been steadily falling into disrepair ever since.

Somerset Council was given nearly £20 million of Government funding two years ago to purchase the site and begin restoration, but has since dropped the project.