DORSET Police has responded to a Sunday newspaper's claims that crack cocaine is easy to get hold of in Dorset.

The allegations were made in the News of the World, where a reporter claimed to have met a drug dealer in the Tesco car park in Blandford and bought the class A drug for £14 a wrap.

The article claimed the market town, previously the subject of a Roger Cook expos, was "staring disaster in the face".

In response to the allegations, Chief Inspector Tim Whittle, Dorset Police Eastern Division support manager, said: "The matter will be referred to the drug squad, who will be in contact with the national newspaper to assess the quality of the evidence and we will then take appropriate action."

Senior officer Detective Chief Inspector Colin Stanger, head of Dorset Police's specialist squads, has also reissued his statement of last week, in which he said: "Crack cocaine is a significant threat nationally and seizures of the drug have increased in Dorset.

"We support the provision of more treatment for drug addicts and as a priority we are targeting and focusing on the dealers.

"We are continuing gathering, refining and assessing intelligence about drugs.

"During the financial year we seized double the amount of crack cocaine compared to the previous 12 months.

"I would urge anyone with information about drugs to get in touch with Dorset Police in confidence and the best way for people to do that is to call the confidential Crimestoppers line."

Between April 2001 and March 2002 Dorset Police made 47 seizures of crack cocaine with a combined street value of £50,000.

Anyone with information should contact the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.