Four officers patrol Polzeath at night

Dan Rogerson spoke out amid reports in the national press of hard drugs being sold at Polzeath in north Cornwall.

Police have stepped up security in the area this year with four officers patrolling from 2200 to 0300 BST.

Local people say police, having banned troublemakers from nearby Daymer Bay where there is a dispersal order, have sent the problem to Polzeath.

Large groups of people causing a great mess and disturbance... can only detract from what is otherwise a beautiful place Dan Rogerson MP

Lib Dem MP Mr Rogerson said: "A small village like this simply isn't set up to accommodate the numbers of young people we're seeing.

"Local residents say there can be up to 500 people a night. This dwarfs the village's population."

He is calling on those supplying holiday accommodation to adopt an over 18s only policy and to favour families when letting their properties.

"The tourist industry is vital, but large groups of people causing a great mess and disturbance, both to local people and to those trying to have a peaceful holiday here, can only detract from what is otherwise a beautiful place."

A report in The People newspaper alleged that drugs, including cocaine and heroin, were being sold near the beach.

Insp Phil Chilvers of Devon and Cornwall Police, said he took the allegations seriously and police would act against offenders.

He said: "We should not be surprised. Wadebridge is only an hour away from cosmopolitan areas like Plymouth and almost every part of the UK has anecdotal evidence of drugs.

"But we have operations directed towards alcohol-related violence and any allegations of drug dealing will be investigated."