SCHOOL pupils as young as 14 staying away from lessons are at risk from dealers in drugs such as cannabis and ecstasy, according to police.

On Monday morning several schoolchildren from both Ludlow CE School and Church Stretton School were questioned by officers after a police operation at about 10am at the public toilets on Shrewsbury Road, Craven Arms.

Other children have been detained and questioned in further raids in the town, said Insp John Payton.

"We had information from various sources about a group of Craven Arms teenagers aged between 14 and 16 who should have been in school but weren't.

"We are concerned that they have been involved with drug dealing and that older men are involved too. We are probably talking about 15 youngsters in all."

No drugs were found on the students during Monday's raid and the officers returned them to their schools.

Police are now liaising with school authorities in both Ludlow and Church Stretton.

Truancy was a problem that required co-operation from schools and parents, said the Inspector.

Mrs Sue Byatt, acting headteacher at Ludlow School, confirmed that two pupils had been returned by police on Monday morning.

"They were playing truant and the police brought them to school. There was no drugs problem.

"We have a school that is drug-free and we want to keep it that way.

"I am worried about non-attendance and the associated problems and my concern is for children's safety in these situations. We always follow up any suspicious patterns of behaviour."

At the time of going to press the headteacher at Church Stretton School, John Allin, was unavailable for comment.

A concerned parent, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, said she knew that children waiting for the bus to go to school openly discussed what drugs they intended to buy.

"There are other parents here who know what is going on and are worried. It's easy to blame the parents but when these older people get their claws in and meet them after school it's very difficult," she said.

Several other parents have told The Advertiser that the derelict buildings on the old auction yard site had been used by youngsters smoking cannabis. These are now demolished but the problem has moved elsewhere.