District drug experts are warning about the dangers of ketamine - a horse tranquilliser increasingly being used as a party drug.

Bradford Council and Airedale Bradford & Leeds Primary Care Trust warn that prolonged or heavy use of the drug can cause urinary incontinence and bladder blockage as well as damage to the kidneys and urethra.

The message has been issued as part of Drugs Prevention Week, a local campaign raising awareness of drug-related issues and the year-round work carried out to tackle problems.

A survey of UK dance drug users found that one-third of respondents had taken ketamine and of those over a quarter reported experiencing urinary symptoms.

Dr Andrew O'Shaughnessy, consultant in public health for Airedale Bradford and Leeds PCT, said: “Ketamine use is a growing problem which, if not stopped, will lead to much human misery and increasing NHS costs during the decade. We urge users to stop now.”

Nina Smith, programme lead (alcohol and drugs) with Bradford Council, said: "We don't have information on the scale of ketamine use in Bradford district but there is no reason to think that usage is any different to other large metropolitan UK areas.”