Officers in Matlock and Bakewell will be given the torches which when shone on noses and mouths show up minute traces of cocaine which might otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.

The torches have been provided by the Safer Derbyshire Dales Community Safety Partnership and were successfully trialled in Derbyshire for the first time as part of National Tackling Drugs Week last month.

Partnership Sergeant, Dave Parker said: "The Dales is a very safe place to live and we hope that these torches will act as another deterrent against illegal drug use.

"They are an innovative tool which we will use in conjunction with drugs dogs and knife arches (portable walk-through metal detectors) which have already proved effective in reducing and detecting crime."

Anyone suspected of using illegal drugs such as cocaine will be searched by officers and prosecuted if necessary.

Anyone with any information about illegal drug use should call Derbyshire Constabulary on 0345 123 33 33 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.