Calls from Keighley people to a crime hotline have soared, it is revealed today.

Crimestoppers has received 227 calls from residents in the Keighley police division in the past seven months alone, compared to 84 in the whole of last year.

Much of the massive increase has been attributed to a campaign, launched in August by the Bradford District Drugs Team, encouraging the public to "Dob in a Dealer".

People are being asked to phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 with information about drug dealing activities.

Keighley police commander Chief Supt Graham Sunderland said the increase in calls was tremendous and showed a growing public confidence that action was being taken to drive dealers from the streets.

He said: "The number of arrests from information we are receiving is phenomenal and people can see that something is being done.

"Things were happening before, but we were not publicising the fact and the public got the impression nothing was going on.

"Also I think people now understand that things will not happen there and then, as soon as they ring.

"We do not just send a uniformed officer around -- we are setting our stall out, arresting the dealers and putting them before the court, and they are being sent down.

"Our target was to arrest 200 Class A drug dealers in Bradford and Keighley in this financial year, and we are on course to achieve that."

News of the success comes as police unveil their latest weapon in the fight against drugs.

Bradford District Drugs Team has produced 10,000 beer mats urging people to report suspected dealers.

And police have taken on a new drug-busting dog, called Sony, which will travel around the district.

People carrying illegal drugs in public places will feel the long paw of the law because Sony has been trained to sniff-out substances at a distance.

The one-year-old black labrador will visit pubs and nightclubs in Keighley and surrounding areas.

Chief Supt Sunderland is delighted that the Dob in a Dealer campaign is been extended to local pubs. He said: "We are aware some people go to pubs and clubs who are unfortunately using controlled drugs.

"By targeting licensed premises with posters and beer mats about the campaign, we'll reach people who may have important information about dealing."

He hopes people will feel reassured rather than threatened by the presence of Sony and his handler, PC Grace Glassett.

He said: "They will work very closely with the District Drugs Team as another way of disrupting drug markets.

"Hopefully, they will become familiar faces in the district's nightspots, sniffing-out drugs on unsuspecting revellers," added Chief Supt Sunderland