London the 'cocaine capital of Europe' for second year running

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London is the cocaine capital of Europe for the second year running, an official study of drug concentrations in sewage reveals.

The city is one of a small number which has seen an increase in traces of the Class A substance over recent years.

It also emerged that ecstasy appears to be making a comeback. Analysis by the EU's drug monitoring agency showed:

  • The average daily concentration of cocaine in London's wastewater was 909mg per 1,000 people last year - up from 737mg in 2014

  • The next closest level was 642mg in Amsterdam

  • When weekend samples only are taken into account, the concentration for London rises to 1044

The Europe-wide study analysed wastewater in more than 60 European cities and towns to gain an insight into drug use.

In order to assess cocaine levels, experts examined samples for benzoylecgonine, the main substance produced when the body breaks down the drug.