POLICE are being urged to clamp down on drug dealing and use on the town's recreation ground.

A leading town councillor, calling for a crackdown by the police, says that it is "common knowledge" that the open area, between Orchard Way and Bye Street, is a venue for drug and alcohol misuse.

Resident Ryan Davies told the Reporter that he has seen drug dealing on Ledbury’s Recreation Ground.

He said: “I’ve seen young people selling weed on the Rec: £30 and £40 a time – the money they must be making! I don’t understand what Ledbury’s coming to.

"Ledbury’s police just don’t want to know. Something needs to be done about this, or someone could be killed; someone might overdose. We don’t want this going on in Ledbury.”

Cllr Tony Bradford, chairman of the town council's environment and leisure committee, said: “I have brought this matter to the attention of the police, and one of the reasons we opened the debate about what should be done on the Rec was because of the problems there with drugs and alcohol.

"I personally have not seen drug dealing there, but it’s common knowledge, and I’m still getting mothers say to me that they will not send their children down to the Rec.”

Superintendent Sue Thomas, local policing lead for Herefordshire, said: "We fully understand how drugs offences can impact on the community, and tackling these offences remains a priority for West Mercia Police.

"Officers from the local safer neighbourhood team routinely patrol the area and work closely with our partner agencies and the community in order to target our patrols and resources most effectively.

"Information from the public is an invaluable tool in tackling suspected drugs-related activity and we would always encourage members of the community to report any concerns to police, where we will make every effort to act on information received."