Spending on services for drug and alcohol addicts in Barking and Dagenham has been cut by more than £230,000, FOI figures have revealed.

The council has ended its £339,631 per year contract with service provider Addaction, who ran a centre for drug and alcohol addicts in Linton Road, Barking.

CGL, who run the Red Lion Service, which is scheduled to close, will see their annual fee rise from £1,491,898 in 2017/18 to £1,599,796 in 2018/19.

Overall spending on drug and alcohol services will decrease by around 12 per cent.

However the council insists standards will be maintained.

A council spokesman said: “Even though the costs have reduced, there is no reduction in the service we provide.

“What we have done is move from two providers to one thereby reducing our overheads and other management costs allowing us to put money into other services for vulnerable people.”