The lord advocate has refused to back controversial plans for Scotland's first "injection rooms" in Glasgow.

The supervised injection facility, similar to those already operating in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland, would give drug addicts access to clean needles and a safe environment to inject.

The drive to introduce the injection rooms came after a steep rise in HIV cases.

The rooms required the lord advocate, James Wolffe QC, to decriminalise heroin within the facility.

A Crown Office spokesman said: "The lord advocate has considered the proposals and is of the view that the public interest objective is a health rather than justice one.

"Scottish Government health officials will therefore offer to meet with the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSPC) to discuss the proposal, its objectives, and how these might best be met."

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been under increased pressure trying to treat the number of drug addicts with HIV.

It is believed it costs the health board around £29m annually.

HSCP said it has not given up on the plans yet and will be looking at other ways to implement the facility.

A HSPC spokesperson added: "We will continue to work with partners with the objective of opening a safer drug consumption facility in Glasgow."