GWENT police officers with sniffer dogs and specialist machines launched surprise random drugs tests at three Cwmbran schools today.

A team of six officers visited the town's three secondary schools, Croesyceiliog, Fairwater and Llantarnam, to test pupils and classrooms for traces of illegal drugs.

The entire year ten group from each school - pupils aged between 15 and 16 - were called into their school hall, where their bags were laid out for the drugs dogs to check.

Officers then used the force's Ion Track drug detection system to swab doors, desks and other classroom surfaces to check for traces of drugs.

No individual tests were carried out on pupils.

The six officers involved in the operation found no traces of drugs at any of the schools.

PC Darrell Dewar, Cwmbran police's crime and disorder reduction officer, said the tests were not carried out in relation to any specific incident or as a result of any evidence, but were part of an ongoing operation.

Only senior staff at the schools knew they were going ahead.

PC Dewar said: "We are glad that we didn't find any traces of drugs, but that doesn't mean to say that there are not drugs in schools.

"We mustn't sit back and be complacent and think nothing's going on because today's exercise proved negative.

"We will continue to liaise with the headteachers, who have been fully supportive of the operation, and there will be further such tests in future."