Drugs sniffer dogs will be sent into Bradford's schools in a move to keep dealers out of its playgrounds and classrooms.

Bradford Police's new passive-scanning dog, which has already been used to pinpoint offenders in pub and nightclub queues, will be called upon to hunt out illegal substances on pupils in sites where dealers are thought to operate.

In future, officers will order the dog into schools where they feel there is a problem or if headteachers ask for them to make a visit.

Sony, a one-year-old black Labrador, carried out a demonstration of its work at Bradford's Thornton Grammar School.

Unlike traditional sniffers, which are used to search buildings, furniture or cars, Sony specialises in finding drugs hidden on people themselves.

Schools liaison officer PC Kevin Taylor said: "There is not a huge drugs problem in local schools - in fact, drugs are not tolerated in any school.

"This is simply to show pupils that the police can use one of many methods to find illegal drugs.

"Thornton Grammar School does not have a problem - they simply invited the police into the school to discourage any kind of drug misuse taking place in or outside the premises.

"Unfortunately schools can sometimes attract drug dealers because young people can be a captive market.

"We hope this will deter any drug-dealing activity and will reinforce messages given to young people about the scourge of drugs."

Elaine Dawson, deputy head teacher at Thornton Grammar, reinforced the message that there was not a drug problem in the school.

"We are not complacent and are keen to educate our pupils that drugs cannot be tolerated," she said.

"We want young people to make the right choices and resist drugs so they can lead healthy and crime-free lives."

Pupils will also receive information about the Dob in a Dealer campaign which urges people to expose drug dealers by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.