DNA testing has become West Mercia police's secret weapon in its crackdown on crime.

The force has increased the samples of DNA it analyses by 100 per cent in the last year, testing DNA left at all scenes of crime - from murders to car thefts.

As a result, 700 names were added to the national DNA database last year, providing vital information to help the police solve crimes.

The news came on the day two men appeared before Worcester magistrates charged with smashing up cars, in separate incidents.

Both were traced through their DNA, and both pleaded guilty when faced with the evidence.

Blood traces were found at the scenes after the men cut themselves when smashing car windows. Timothy Green, of Randwick Drive, Warndon, and Jason Telford, of Maple Avenue, Tolladine, are now awaiting sentence.

Carl Baldacchino, a spokesman for West Mercia Constabulary, said DNA samples had been taken from everyone arrested since April 2001 and was proving a vital tool to combat crime.

"From April to December last year, we had more than 700 matches made through DNA in West Mercia - that was more than a 100 per cent increase on the year before," said Mr Baldacchino. "DNA makes people admit the crime when confronted by the evidence. It has increased our ability to put criminals before the court."

He said the DNA for every recorded offence was stored on a national database.

"DNA is a very important kind of identification tool," said Mr Baldacchino. "It's almost as important to us as fingerprints.

"The majority of DNA received is from burglaries. We also take DNA from thefts of motor vehicles."