EXMOUTH police were at the weekend out in force with the message to pub-goers that drugs will not be tolerated in the town.

EXMOUTH police were at the weekend out in force with the message to pub-goers that drugs will not be tolerated in the town.

Officers armed with sniffer dogs on Saturday night visited two of the town's busiest pubs in a high-profile operation to drive out drugs.

The police said no arrests were made, or drugs found, when the team visited the First and Last Inn and the Ship Inn.

Exmouth neighbourhood team leader Sergeant Nick Southern said the police plan to regularly repeat the operation.

Officers said the Pubs Against Drugs campaign was supported by the town's licensees.

Sgt Southern said officers randomly targeted pubs - and said different pubs would be visited in the future.

He said the aim was to protect drinkers from the dangers of mixing alcohol and drugs.

Sgt Southern said: "We are trying to create this culture for people to feel safe when they are going out.

"The licensees are very aware we are doing this operation and are all for it and quite keen for us to visit them.

"When we went in to see them, they were quite happy to see us.

"And when we went back and told them we had found nothing, it's good for them.

"We will be doing it at least every month, but we are not going to do specific dates because we want to keep people on their toes.