Taunton'S licensees have defended their reputations after a spate of drink spikings over Christmas and New Year.

Police warned festive drinkers to watch their drinks after a series of incidents, including one highlighted in last week's Somerset County Gazette in which a teenager from Wellington had to be taken to hospital.

But Taunton's Pubwatch members say they're doing all they can to crack down on the sick game where mind-altering drugs are added to people's drinks.

Spokesman Jonathan Bennett, of Sturm's Sports Bar, confirmed that drink spikings were taking place in the town, but said the problem was less common than in other areas.

Drinkers who leave their bottles and glasses unattended for even a few minutes, meanwhile, are likely to find them cleared away whether they are empty or not, so they cannot be spiked.

Mr Bennett said men and women alike are having their drinks tampered with, partly because it's so hard to tell whose drink is whose in these days of equality and bottled alcopops.