A SOMERSET school has announced it will be entering into a partnership with the police dog training unit.

The agreement between King Alfred School in Highbridge and Avon and Somerset Constabulary will see training sessions for the dogs, which are used to search premises and vehicles, held at the site.

Although most of the sessions will be held in the evenings and on weekends and school holidays, once a month the dogs will spend an afternoon in the school.

Headteacher Andy Owen said: “We are delighted to build on our strong relationships with the police and to act as a training base for the search dog unit.

“The presence of the search dogs will also act as a deterrent. We are unapologetic in that we have a zero-tolerance policy on drugs and that anyone bringing illegal substances onto the school site will be dealt with most severely”