WEYMOUTH has some of the highest levels of heroin and morphine misuse deaths in the UK, new figures show.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics have revealed that the town had 4.1 heroin and/or morphine misuse deaths per 100,000 people in Weymouth in 2016 against the national averages of 1.7 in England and 2.3 in Wales.

Heroin or morphine users have been called the “Trainspotting generation” in the report which describes those who became addicted to heroin in the 1980s and 1990s.

Nationally, the report also revealed the highest levels of deaths linked to the misuse of heroin and morphine are in areas which have been once been seaside resorts including Hastings and Portsmouth while Blackpool topped the bill with 14.0 heroin and/or morphine misuse deaths per 100,000 people in 2016.

Meanwhile, other areas of the county did not have an issue with Purbeck recording no deaths while West Dorset had a death rate of 0.4 per 100,000 people.

Councillor Francis Drake, cabinet member for community safety at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council said that they had the "problem in hand" and were working with Dorset Police and other partners on the issue.

Friends of the Rodwell Trail chairman, Sam Wait, said he was “very sad to here about the drugs situation” but stressed that the the issue was “a societal problem not just a Weymouth one.”

It comes after the group cleared up a pile of discarded needles and drug paraphernalia on the trail on Sunday, May 6 shortly after 7am after the issue was reported to them the night before.

Mr Wait added that a follow-up check was also undertaken by the council. The Friends also hold regular litter picks on the trail and always welcome new volunteers.

The group also found hundreds of needles during a community litter-pick event in May last year prompting an investigation by Dorset Police and council public health officials.

Nick Wyer, pan-Dorset drug-related death coordinator for Dorset Police, said that Dorset Police and its partners “remain determined to take any action possible to reduce the number of drug-related deaths”.

Mr Wyer added: "A Dorset-wide drug and alcohol strategy is in place to address the challenges and identify learning that may help in reducing the number of these deaths across the county.

"Protecting people at risk of harm, which includes tackling harm caused by drug misuse and supply, is a priority for Dorset Police.

"We fully understand from speaking with residents how it impacts on the community, but this issue can be seen in many towns across the country.”

To find out what you can do to tackle drugs and the support available, visit edp.org.uk/reach or call 0800 0434656.