CRACK cocaine use almost trebled in North Yorkshire in just five years, new figures suggest.

The latest research released by the Government estimates the number of crack cocaine users in York increased by 21 per cent between 2010/2011 and 2016/2017 - and by a staggering 194 per cent across North Yorkshire.

The report says that crack cocaine is being pushed to existing heroin users - with dealers even offering free crack samples or three-for-two deals to attract customers.

But health chiefs in North Yorkshire stressed the figures were estimated - and were part of a national picture.

The Government figures were arrived at after collecting information from drug treatment services, probation, police and prisons.

They suggest there were 483 crack cocaine users in York in 2016/2017 (compared to 398 in 2010/2011), and 1,193 across North Yorkshire (compared to 406 in 2010/2011).

But in the same period, opiate use fell. There were 687 estimated opiate users in York in 2016/2017 (compared to 884 in 2010/2011), and 1,587 in North Yorkshire (compared to 1,718 in 2010/2011).

The report adds there were an estimated 74 people aged between 15 and 24 in York alone who were known users of opiates and/or crack cocaine in 2016/2017.

In the same year - the most recent figures available - the figures suggest there were 211 users aged 25 to 34 in York, and 525 aged 35 to 64.

The Government report spoke to crack cocaine users and said the drug was being “heavily pushed by dealers who tended to target existing heroin users”.

It said: “Service users described how dealers would offer free samples of crack with their heroin or attractive three-for-two deals (“two white and one brown”). This was particularly common when a new dealer was aiming to infiltrate the market and offering cheaper prices or better quality drugs to build a customer base.”

City of York Council stressed the figures were estimated but said the authority could not comment further due to the upcoming local elections.

Dr Lincoln Sergeant, North Yorkshire’s Director for Public Health, acknowledged there had been “a national increase in reported use of crack cocaine”, but said there had not been a significant increase in North Yorkshire between 2014/2015 and 2016/2017.

Dr Sergeant said: “Data collected by Public Health England from our commissioned service North Yorkshire Horizons does not show that crack cocaine is a significant feature for individuals accessing treatment. However, we continue to work in partnership to address changing needs across North Yorkshire.”

North Yorkshire Police said cross-border criminals were partly to blame for the rise in crack cocaine use.

A report by the Public Health Institute which looked at the prevalence of opiate and/or crack-cocaine use found the highest use for both “continues to be in the north of England, with the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber all having estimated prevalence rates of opiate and/or crack cocaine use above 10 per thousand population”.

The same report found Yorkshire and Humberside had an estimated prevalence of crack cocaine use over five per thousand in 2016/2017, among the highest in the country.