VODKA bottles being sold in the Weymouth area could be dangerous, police warn.

Bottles have been stolen from a container from the stricken cargo vessel MSC Napoli, which was being stored at Portland Port.

Port bosses have since received reports that bottles of vodka are being sold by a man in Weymouth.

As the Napoli was transporting various hazardous chemicals there is a chance the vodka bottles may be contaminated.

Police Constable Ian Warncken, of Weymouth and Portland police, warned members of the public to beware.

"I'd urge anyone who has bought a bottle of vodka from a man in the Weymouth area not to drink it," he said.

A security worker discovered several smashed and undamaged bottles on the floor below a container storing vodka at Portland Port shortly before midnight on Sunday. Bolt cutters found nearby had been used to cut the security tag of the vodka container, which was being stored four containers high.

Staff made a stop and search of all vehicles leaving the site that evening following the discovery of the theft.

Portland Port then received an anonymous call from a concerned member of the public that a man was selling vodka bottles in the Weymouth area.

PC Warncken said: "There are currently around 1,400 containers from the grounded vessel at the port and this is the first incident of theft to be reported.

"I'm appealing for anyone who has been offered the vodka under suspicious circumstances in the Weymouth and Portland area to contact Dorset Police in confidence."

Witnesses and anyone with any information should contact police on 01305 222222 or the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.