The number of recorded drug offences in Bollington have increased twofold, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The self-titled 'Happy Valley' was named 'one of the best places to live in 2021' by The Sunday Times last month.

However, the proud community have had eight drug crimes since the first lockdown was imposed.

There was no drug crimes in Bollington in 2020 until the first lockdown, with the first being two drug thugs arrested in May 2020.

Further crimes were recorded in the lockdown months of November 2020 and January 2021, including a drug crime every month in the leafy small-town from October 2020 to the New Year.

In the previous 13 month period, there were just half the number of drug crimes in Bollington, with four offenders being caught from November 2018-December 2019.

There have been 12 drug crimes in total Bollington since April 2018, with majority coming since May 2020.

However, despite a national spike in drug crime, Home Office statistics suggest drug crime in Cheshire decreased in the year ending September 2020.

Cheshire one of only seven counties in the UK seeing a fall in crime with illegal substances.

Sergeant Helen Percival said: "We know that drugs have a hugely detrimental impact on communities and we are committed to doing all we can to bring those responsible to justice.

"Over the past twelve months the team at Bollington have undertaken a number proactive operations as part of their continued fight against drug related crime in the area.

"A recent example of this work, was a Closure Order which was granted for a house on Ovenhouse Lane which had been linked to anti-social behaviour, violence and drug related activity.

"We also arrested a man on suspicion of possession with intent to supply drugs, following a stop check in the Harrop Road area.

"However, this is not an issue that we tackle alone and information from supplied by members of the public is crucial to this fight and I urge anyone with any information about suspected drug related activity in their community to get in touch."

You can report suspected drug dealing to Cheshire Constabulary directly by calling 101 or giving the details online via their website. 

Alternatively, information can also be given anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.