A PARENT has complained about cannabis being smoked outside the Basingstoke College of Technology.

Mother-of-three Jacqueline Thorne, who lives on Worting Road and opposite the college, said she has been forced to complain to the police.

Hampshire Constabulary said it is an ongoing issue.

Ms Thorne reported another incident of cannabis being smoked on Monday afternoon (January 20).

She told the Gazette: “Students have been meeting in small groups, usually around four or five of them at a time, and smoking cannabis each day. I do not want this around my children but when I reported it to the college they told me there was nothing they can do.”

A spokesman for BCOT said: "Unfortunately there is a growing problem with substance misuse in the Basingstoke area. We are working closely with local charities such as Catch 22 to help solve this complex issue, however we have a zero tolerance approach to drug misuse at college and any suspected students would be dealt with in line with our behavioural policy.”