Hundreds of students at a college in Watford were searched to check they were not armed with any weapons.

Police say the operation at West Herts College on Wednesday was part of ongoing work to raise awareness of the dangers of knife crime and to "keep the streets of Watford as safe as possible".

Around a dozen officers from the Watford safer neighbourhood team were involved spending the morning using metal-detector knife arches to search the students.

Police say no weapons were found but a 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs.

Safer neighbourhood team sergeant Matt Langley, who led the operation, said: "Thankfully, this was a very successful operation in that no weapons were found. Although we do not have a specific problem in Watford linked to possession of weapons, we have been taking preventative action to monitor any emerging issues and respond accordingly.

"As such, we have conducted regular high visibility and covert patrols, as well as proactive knife sweeps, working in partnership with both the council and local schools and colleges."

Watford Observer: Credit: Hertfordshire ConstabularyCredit: Hertfordshire Constabulary

Sgt Langley added: "We are committed to ensuring that Watford is a safe place to live and work, and we hope that this proactive activity – along with our regular countywide knife amnesties under Operation Sceptre – reassures the public that we are determined to get weapons off our streets."