Britain's first WhatsApp fingerprint conviction has led to a flood of new cases, police have revealed, after a criminal was caught using a photograph of his hand holding drugs.

South Wales police used pioneering techniques to enhance a photograph of three fingers holding ecstasy tablets, which was found on a mobile phone after an arrest linked to a drug dealing investigation in Bridgend.

Dave Thomas, forensics operations manager at the Scientific Support Unit, described the use of the technique, which helped to secure 11 convictions, as "groundbreaking" and said officers are now examining photographs more closely for potential evidence.

It is thought to be the first conviction in the UK from fingerprints taken from a photograph.

"It has now opened the floodgates and when there is part of a hand on a photograph, officers are sending them in," he told the BBC.