DRUG dealers have returned in force to Weymouth's railway station since security patrols stopped, it was claimed today.

Taxi drivers working out of the station in King Street claimed that the pushers are destroying the town's image as a family resort.

They say security must be improved to stamp out the dealers on their return after security guards employed by South West Trains stopped patrolling last year.

John Brooks, chairman of Weymouth and Portland Hackney Carriage Association, said: "The situation improved when we had security guards there because they chased the drug dealers away, but the problem has come back.

"They use the station as a point of contact and hang around there. It is a real concern. It's not a pretty sight if people get abusive when they have taken drugs and it's especially bad for holidaymakers visiting Weymouth."

Thirty-five out of the association's 53 members are based at taxi ranks outside the station.

Mr Brooks said the problem is at its worst in the morning when dealers target prisoners who wait for trains after being released from Portland jails.

"The prisoners come to the station by taxi and within seconds of getting out they are approached by people who are drug dealers," he added.

"They often have a couple of hours to wait for their train and take up on the offer. The dealers also congregate there between 3pm and 4pm."

He is calling on South West Trains to permanently bring back the security guards at Weymouth Station, which were replaced by two Travel Safe officers who man the Weymouth to Wareham line.

Councillor Joy Stanley - who represents Melcombe Regis which includes the station - said: "I'm appalled to hear this is happening at the station.

"Who would want to come on holiday to a resort where you find drug dealers as soon as you step off the train? It would make you want to get back on the train. It's bad for taxi drivers' trade too."

SWT says Travel Safe officers patrol the station four times a week and there are no plans to start employing security guards there again.

Company spokesman Simone Spinks said: "We don't think there is a need to have security guards as well as Travel Safe officers. This is a community issue, not a SWT trains problem. This is about all of us working together to get rid of these dealers.

"I understand most of this dealing takes place at a phone box which is actually on the edge of our land."

She added that there are 12 closed circuit television cameras at the station.