Two pupils have been expelled from a North Yorkshire school for possessing drugs.

A third boy was given a fixed-term suspension from Malton School after a search of their bags revealed one of them was carrying a piece of cannabis resin.

Officers at Malton say parents need to be aware there is a rising tide of drug abuse in rural areas and say there are agencies, which will help them.

An 18-year-old youth has also been arrested and charged with supplying controlled drugs.

Sergeant Ian Fieldsend, of Malton Police, said drugs and drug-related violence were a growing menace in the countryside and warned that parents should educate themselves about the problem.

"This is the first time we have made this kind of drug arrest at the school," said Sgt Fieldsend.

"But parents must realise that drugs are not just an inner-city problem.

"We have seized amphetamines in Malton and we know heroin is getting into Pickering, which means there is every chance it is happening throughout the area.

"There is also more and more violence born out of drug abuse taking place in rural areas.

"We need to stamp this out before it really takes hold and we would ask the public to be vigilant and pass information on to us." The three schoolboys were arrested for possessing and supplying controlled drugs by Malton Police, who were called in by the school.

Headmaster David Roberts said he had taken firm action in line with the school's drugs' policy and said teachers worked closely with the police in such matters.

"We would call the police in if a suspicious substance was found, and any pupil found to be connected with the possession, use or supply of drugs in school is punished," said Mr Roberts.

"The nature of that punishment depends on the degree of involvement and the individual's school record - each case is dealt with individually.

"We tackle drugs and their effects in our personal and social education programme, bringing in outside speakers to give expert advice."

Malton School governor Martin Parrott said he was concerned about what had happened at the school, but added that he was not able to comment on the matter.

North Yorkshire County Council backed the headmaster's action and said parents supported schools taking a tough line on drugs.

Last March a 16-year-old pupil was expelled from Norton College for allegedly supplying cannabis to a 13-year-old pupil and North Yorkshire Health Promotion Service ran a series of talks on drugs awareness for parents at schools in Ryedale.

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