Footage has emerged of men allegedly smoking the addictive drug Spice on a tram in Manchester city centre.

In video and stills filmed on November 23, two hooded men are sat on a tram. One is handling a bag of what looks like drugs. He takes out some of the substance and appears to be putting it inside a rolled cigarette, unseen behind the tram seat.

In one of the stills, the same man can be seen smoking. They also appear to show the men exchanging drugs.

The filmer is in no doubt that the substance was the addictive Spice drug. He told Newsflare: "You could tell it was definitely not cannabis as the smell was totally different."

He later wrote online: “We had gotten on the tram from Deansgate. I was sat next to the doors on the opposite side. To my right, an off-duty tram driver got on also, I think this was at St. Peter’s Square.

“They were clearly up to something between there and Piccadilly and the off-duty guy kept looking over. It wasn’t until one of the guys on the photos lit up that the driver went over and had a go at them. They got off at Piccadilly and we stayed on until New Islington, the next stop.

“In recent months it seems many of the drug dealers and drug takers are using the tram network as a way of distributing and collecting their drugs. Often exchanging money for drugs on the trams themselves.

“I have witnessed people exchanging drugs for money four times in the last two months.

“What's worse is the number of people under the influence or taking drugs on the trams on a daily basis.

“In the photos you can clearly see two men exchanging drugs and then smoking spice on the tram itself.

“Because the trams do not have turnstiles, these dealers and users can jump on and off the trams as they please. If the tram security gets on the trams, they get off and get on the next tram that follows.”

The disturbing footage emerges just days after Greater Manchester Police announced it was bolstering’s transport security with an announcement of 10 new Police Community Support Officers.

The officers are to be part of the region’s TravelSafe Partnership, a multi-agency approach set up to tackle and reduce crime and antisocial behaviour on Greater Manchester’s bus and tram networks.

++CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE: RAW VIDEO AVAILABLE ON REQUEST++

These two videos were taken at 19:17 and 19:36 on 23/11/17.

We had gotten on the tram from Deansgate. I was sat next to the doors on the opposite side. To my right, an off duty tram driver got on also, I think this was at St. Peter’s Square but I can’t be sure.

They were clearly up to something between there and Piccadilly and the off duty guy kept looking over. It wasn’t until one of the guys on the photos lit up that the driver went over and had a go at them. They got off at Piccadilly and we stayed on until New Islington, the next stop.

The number of people taking drugs in the city has increase dramatically over the past couple of years. However, in recent months it seems many of the drug dealers and drug takers are using the tram network as a way of distributing and collecting their drugs. Often exchanging money for drugs on the trams themselves.

I have witnessed people exchanging drugs for money four times in the last two months.

What's worse is the number of people under the influence or taking drugs on the trams on a daily basis.

In the photos you can clearly see two men exchanging drugs and then smoking spice on the tram itself.

Because the trams do not have turnstyles, these dealers and users can jump on and off the trams as they please. If the tram security get on the trams, they get off and get on the next tram that follows.

Until recently, much of their drug use was mainly in the Piccadilly Gardens area of the city. However, in recently months it seems they have taken to using the tram network much more, this seemed to follow the Conservative Party conference in October, as the police were keen to get them off the city streets, but they were just displaced.

It’s also winter so they may be using the trams to stay warm off the streets.