Police sniffer dogs were on the hunt for illegal substances at Keighley Train Station and identified ten people who have recently come into contact with drugs.

Rail users were greeted with the sight of the sniffer dogs yesterday as part of an operation to cut down on nuisance drug taking after complaints from passengers and residents about alleged substance misuse.

Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) and a West Yorkshire Police dog were based in the station for three hours.

Officers stopped passengers if the dog reacted to the possible smell of cannabis on their clothes, and ten people were identified as recently having been in contact with drugs. Although no arrests were made, police issued several warnings.

They also kept their eye out for any anti-social behaviour at or around the station.

Eight officers from the NPT were involved, working with British Transport Police (BTP).

The officers also patrolled in nearby Dalton Lane and surrounding streets.

NPT constable Tanveer Hussain said the team was responding to concerns raised by several train passengers and residents over the nuisance behaviour of some of their fellow passengers, which included open drug taking.

After the operation, he said: “Crimes of this nature won’t be tolerated. The operation was very successful, it addressed some of the concerns passed to us by rail users. We will try and do regular operations like this to keep people satisfied the problem is being dealt with.

“Part of the campaign is that word gets out and it sends a message that we won’t tolerate this.”

Marten Lougee, vice-chairman of the Aire Valley Rail Users Group, lives in Keighley and has also worked with BTP on a national independent advisory group. He said while drug use was not a problem unique to any one station, such operations were vital to maintaining confidence in the rail system.

He said: “I welcome operations like this, it is a vital part in keeping the railway safe for commuters and passengers.

“This is the type of work done by British Transport Police around the country to keep the system safe for everyone. It lets drug users know there are no-go areas.”