A GOVERNMENT ban on five "legal highs" has been welcomed by Hampshire's police and crime commiss-ioner.

Simon Hayes commended the Government for imposing the ban, which covers five compounds related to methylphenidate (trade name Ritalin) - a class-B drug sometimes prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – or ADHD.

The legislation - imposed last Friday - will last for up to 12 months to allow the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to decide whether they should be made permanently illegal.

For full story, see this week's Bordon Herald.