Dogs trained to sniff out cocaine, heroin and date rape drugs are to begin surprise searches of a town's pubs.

All licensees at Witney have signed up to the new 'drugs dog protocol', which will see dogs and handlers carrying out random checks of premises' bars, toilets and cloakrooms, to stamp out dealing and drug use.

Bill Oddy, head of community safety and licensing at West Oxfordshire District Council, said: "Fifty-nine premises across the district have now signed up, and obviously we cannot say exactly when, because we do not want to alert dealers, but the searches will be taking place throughout the coming months. We carried out a similar operation in Witney two or three years ago.

"It was very successful and it is the licensees who have come to us and asked for more help in cracking down on drugs.

"West Oxfordshire is a great place to live. We are proud of our low crime rate and the reduction in crime during the last year and want to keep it that way."

Danny Patching, chairman of the West Oxfordshire Licensees Association, said: "Nowhere is immune from drugs, including Witney, and local licensees have absolutely embraced these searches.

"They have been shown to work and anything which keeps drugs out of our pubs is a good thing."

Paul Dennis, bar manager at iZi cafe, bar and restaurant, in Market Square, said: "We want to keep drugs out of our bars and anything that proves a deterrent is a good thing."

Asked how customers had reacted to news of the searches, he added: "The majority have welcomed it."

The drugs dogs are owned and operated by Grosvenor International Services (GIS), based in Northmoor.

GIS carries out regular drugs searches in Oxford, Bicester, Didcot and Banbury and is also employed by Thames Valley Police to carry out drug searches of six schools in Buckinghamshire.

Principal director John Franklin-Webb said: "We are in the business of driving drugs, not people, from licensed premises.

"Most drugs go into clubs and pubs on females, as they are less likely to be searched.

"And the paraphernalia is dumped in places like sanitary bins in women's toilets, where people would be less willing to search.

"It is clear to us that the use of drugs is an issue for most towns and cities, but those, like Witney, who are working hard to deter drug activity, are demonstrating social responsibility."

For more information on GIS, call 0700 5353235 or visit their website.