Britain and America have agreed a joint maritime anti-drugs agreement -- with Bermuda part of the UK territories included, along with Caribbean possessions.

The deal includes the placing of agents on each other's ships, the right of hot pursuit of suspect vessels and aircraft into the other's territorial waters and overflight rights inside territorial airspace.

Routine patrols inside territorial waters of the two nations jurisdictions will also be covered, along with boarding rights of suspicious vessels in international waters.

Foreign Office junior minister Baroness Symons signed the agreement with US Department of State official Wendy Sherman earlier this week.

The agreement provides "a framework for cooperation in the waters of the Caribbean and Bermuda'' and is designed to boost joint efforts to beat drug-trafficking at sea.