The harrowing toll of Kent's heroin use has been revealed today.

More than 4,000 addicts are abusing the class A drug in the county - the highest in the South East.

That's according to statistics released by The National Treatment Agency for Substance Abuse, which estimates the figure for the county as 4,500.

The scale was revealed as the government's first drug strategy is released.

It shows there are 350,000 heroin users in the UK altogether, but under half get treatment for their addiction.

And of those who do find help, up to 70 per cent will have relapsed a year later.

The new drug strategy aims to increase powers to seize the property and assets of drug dealers, to crackdown on those involved in the trade.

Cars, designer clothing and even money held in overseas bank accounts could be taken from people convicted of drug offences.

Part of the new policy will also look at whether prescribing substitutes like methadone actually works. And there will be more focus on the treatment of addicts.

Angela Painter, chief executive of Kenward Trust, a drugs and alcohol recovery service in Kent, said: "It's wonderful news - very positive.

"We've always believed that treatment is far better than punishment.

"We believe it's possible to turn people's lives around. It's a very positive move."

She said it an alternative to custody was a much more positive solution.