THERE has been a daily police presence at a town centre high school after allegations were made about drug deals and drug use taking place in its grounds.

A resident at a Smallwood PACT (Partners and Commun-ities Together) meeting last month claimed he had seen non-students dealing drugs with pupils at Trinity High School.

But after police attended the Easemore Road school before and after school hours and during lunchtimes and staff had carried out an anonymous survey to see if there was a problem, no evidence of drug dealing was found.

Local beat manager Pc Rebecca Handy said: "Drug use and drug dealing at Trinity High School was raised as a priority last month and in response to this we've had a police presence at the school on a daily basis but have seen no evidence of drug use. The school has also conducted its own anonymous survey with regard to drug use and the results of this do not suggest there is a problem in the area.

"We will be continuing to liaise with the school and monitor the situation to offer reassurance and to discourage future incidents."

A school spokesman said: "Trinity High School is happy to work with community organisations and the police in the PACT forum and it is reassuring to have them confirm the school's own findings.

"We are always willing to work with others to ensure the well-being of our students."

Other priority areas identified in the Smallwood and Southcrest area PACT meeting were parking in Oakly Road and Marsden Road, litter in Salop Road, Pool Bank and Marsden Road, anti-social behaviour in Britannia Close and speeding in Oakly Road and Station Way.