THE alleged extent of the club drug problem in Barnard Castle emerged yesterday when a teenage dealer revealed he expected to sell 100 Ecstasy tablets a night in the town.

Mark Day, 18, was caught by plain clothes police leaving the Castle Wall wine bar in the town with 78 tablets of the drug.

A further 41 tablets of Ecstasy were found when officers searched his home in Hamire Road, Barnard Castle.

Day admitted buying the drugs "on tick" for £2.50 and was selling them on for £8.50 each. He said he had expected to sell them all on the Friday night when he was arrested.

A dealer's list was found at his home and Day admitted his main motive for selling the drugs was to make money, although he refused to disclose the identity of his supplier for fear of reprisals.

Greg Purcell, for Day, said he was a stupid young man who began using Ecstasy for recreation and then selling to friends. He said: "He must go to prison. There is no doubt about that, and he accepts that."

Day was sent to a young offenders' institution for three years after admitting supplying a Class A drug and possession with intent to supply.

But police dismissed his claims as unrealistic. Inspector George Ledger said: "I'm not saying Barnard Castle doesn't have drug users, but I would be very surprised if he could sell that quantity of Ecstasy tablets."