TRAINEE police dogs have been sniffing out a new training base at a Worcestershire warehouse.

West Mercia police’s specialist dog handling team have been practising their skills at the Whitefoot-Forward’s 60,000 sq ft storage premises on Hartlebury Trading Estate.

The visit followed the end of a force-wide search for suitable locations where the team could be put through their paces.

PC Ash Oliver said: “Whitefoot-Forward’s headquarters struck as a perfect training venue for our team of dogs and we were delighted when they agreed to open up their warehouse and offices to us.”

The exercise, involving six of the force’s dogs – including cocker and springer spaniels – is one of several planned for this year.

The dogs are on a six-week developmental course detecting class C drugs and firearms components, before passing an assessment allowing them to join the dog-handling team.

Company managing director Michael Whitefoot, said: “With safety and security paramount to our business, it seemed natural to open our doors to the police.

“Our warehouse proved an ideal location for those super-sensitive canine noses.”