POLICE chiefs claim that stag and hen parties hitting the streets of Weymouth are behind a major rise in violent crime.

There has been a rise of 6.5 per cent in violent crime in the first quarter of this year compared to the same time last year.

Senior officers told yesterday's meeting of the Police Authority that the drunken parties were leading to an increase in the number of fights and assaults.

Deputy chief constable Chris Lee said that people from across the country were being drawn to the resort as its reputation as a party-night town spread.

He said: "Weymouth is popular with hen and stag nights which seem to be young people consuming great amounts of alcohol."

He said the growing popularity for the resort and others in the county must be addressed.

"The changing nature of the county needs to be reflected. It's a good thing that Dorset is becoming more popular but as we go towards the budget the issue of our continuing ability to address the problems associated with it needs to be considered."

Dorset Chief Constable Jane Stichbury told the authority's audit and performance committee that the county's growing name as a party centre has added to the increase.

She said: "It's reputation has contributed to a whole range of events including hen and stag parties being held here and what comes with that is violent crime.

"We have seen a change in the nature of the county and what it means to people and it's going to remain a challenging area for us over the next few years."

She said front line policing was being targeted to deal with the problem.

The town's pubs and clubs thrive on the heavy drinking culture of pre-wedding nights out, however many hotels and guest houses have barred single-sex groups from their doors. The police comments come only days after calls were made for Weymouth to become a more upmarket resort and ditch its 'bucket and spade' image.

Alan Davies, chief executive of the World Heritage Coast Hospitality Association, said many hoteliers refuse to take bookings from stag or hen groups and it would be 'detrimental' if Weymouth was viewed as a centre for them.

"We would not want it to be known as somewhere that encourages this type of thing at all," he said.

He added that corporate groups and conferences would be welcomed in the town. But managers and owners of licensed premises gave stag and hen revellers a big thumbs up.

Lynn Parker, manager of The Dorothy Inn on the Esplanade, said: "We target these kind of groups and have never had any problems with them.

"They do drink but they come down here to have a nice fun weekend, laugh and mess about. They don't come down here to cause trouble and get into fights and waste their time in a police cell."

Her views were echoed by Dave Smith, assistant manager at the Rendezvous, St Thomas Street, who said stag and hen parties were problem free.

Robbie Wood, assistant manager at The Old Rectory, St Thomas Street, said: "It's always a good laugh when we get them in. We don't usually have any trouble from them."