Police have seized more than 60 machines believed to have been used in illegal Bitcoin mining in Thailand.

Officers along with furious staff from the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) raided the three-story commercial building in Phayao province on January 11 after neighbours and passers-by complained of unusual heat coming from inside.

When they blitzed through the premises, they found a server, along with dozens of computers, carrying out energy-intensive crypto mining.

The cops also detained two people allegedly involved in the operation and detained them for interrogations.

The PEA estimated damages caused to be around three million baht (74,207 GBP).

The suspects will be charged with stealing electricity and making illegal electricity connections.

Police Colonel Bowon Chaiyakham, superintendent of the Muang Phayao police, said: 'The landlord had rented out the building, but we found that he was not involved in the Bitcoin mining. We will investigate further after questioning the suspects.'

Power theft in Thailand is punished with imprisonment up to five years and fined up to 100,000 baht (2,473 GBP).