MORE junior discos are to be held in Ryedale after a recent event at Malton's Milton Rooms was hailed a success.

The under-18s "dry" discos were once regular events in Ryedale, but were shelved for a period in 2000 after problems with drugs, violence and under-age drinking.

The discos were resurrected, under new management, later that year and won the backing of police for the way they were handled.

Last October, a police sniffer dog was at the event for the first time to check young people for drugs as they went in.

It was paid for using money from the Ryedale Community Safety Partnership, who have teamed up with local event organisers to provide drug-free parties using money obtained from the Communities Against Drugs funding.

The dog was back for the most recent event, at the Milton Rooms on December 21.

Although it picked up traces of drugs on some of the young people, police said the "vast majority" said they had been near places where drugs had been taken.

Sergeant Cliff Edens, of the Ryedale Community Safety partnership, said the dog's nose is sensitive enough to pick up small traces of drugs on a person's clothes or skin.

The young people found with traces on them were spoken to before entering the disco, said Sgt Edens.

He added: "In order to put the events on, we needed to provide education for those who may be on the periphery of the drugs scene.

"The parties have been a success, the young people who come in have been happy to have the dog sniff them and once in, they feel safe.

"That's the feedback we have had. We want to provide a safe environment for them to enjoy themselves."

The next two Teen parties are on the January 24 at Pickering and February 15 at Malton.

For more information phone 01653 697195.

Updated: 09:54 Tuesday, December 31, 2002