A leading Scottish expert on drug abuse has called for a "zero tolerance" strategy from the Scottish government in dealing with illegal drugs.

Professor Neil McKeganey of the University of Glasgow said that the drug situation in Scotland had reached breaking point and that the authorities were giving out the wrong signals.

He highlighted the downgrading of cannabis to a class C drug as a symptom of a "soft approach".

Cannabis was reclassified in 2004 from a class B substance to a class C. The decision is now under review by the government.

Speaking to a group of Swedish politicians, he praised Sweden's zero tolerance approach to drugs.

"There are potential benefits for Scotland in adopting a zero tolerance policy on illegal drugs. We can learn from the Swedish example but there are also aspects of our approach here to illegal drugs that could benefit the Swedes."

Sweden has one of the lowest levels of drug abuse in Europe.

Tomas Hallberg, the director of European Cities Against Drugs Initiative, was amongst the delegation.

Neil McKeganey has previously called for drug addicts to be paid compensation not to get pregnant.