POLICE officers with sniffer dogs took to the street of Winchester as part of an ongoing bid to rid the city of illegal drug use.

The search for those in possession of narcotics involved eight officers and two dogs and took in the whole of the city centre.

One local teenager was arrested after the dog picked up the scent of cannabis stashed in the 19-year-old's pocket.

However, officers are warning city drug users that it is not just cannabis the animals can detect. Any illegal drug from Ecstasy to heroin is easily picked out by the highly trained dogs.

Acting Sergeant Jeff Bird, who led the operation, said: "We hope this sends a clear message to those who think using cannabis is OK.

"The use and possession of the drug is still illegal."

Sergeant Steve French said: "This is not the first time we have used the dogs in the city and won't be the last."