The first centre in Scotland providing a comprehensive service for people with drug problems has been officially opened.

The Timmermarket Clinic in Aberdeen brings together doctors, nurses, social workers and rehabilitation workers under one roof.

The 'one-stop' clinic is designed to help people with drug addiction problems have easy access to all the services they need to start on the road to recovery.

A team of around 30 doctors, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation workers and admin staff are on hand to help patients through an intensive 16-week programme.

The clinic has been operating since May, but was officially opened by Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Community Safety, on Monday.

She said: "What we'll be doing here is bringing together a whole range of services which ensure that people who are misusing drugs at the moment get access straight away, as soon as they begin to think about recovery, to a whole range of services which means that right across their lives they will be supported."

Richard Carey, NHS Grampian chief executive, said: "I’m delighted that we now have an excellent centrally located facility where people with substance misuse problems can easily access the services they require.

"This specialist service, delivered by a multi-agency team of professionals, has made huge progress in recent years in virtually eliminating waiting times, giving people the opportunity for earlier treatment and rehabilitation."

The clinic has already seen around 450 patients since it opened its doors earlier this year.

Fred McBride, Aberdeen City Council director of social care and wellbeing, said: "This is the culmination of a huge amount of dedicated work carried out by everyone involved in this exciting project.

"The Timmermarket Clinic has enhanced our commitment to multi-agency operations, providing lots of new opportunities for collaborative working."