CUSTOMERS were tested for drugs before they could go for a pint in an Oxford pub.

About 80 people were tested with a drugs itemiser outside the Blackbird, in Blackbird Leys, last Friday night, with the promise of more crackdowns to come.

Two people were arrested, seven were searched and a quantity of suspected cocaine was found, police said.

Landlord Glen Williams said he wanted to prove drugs were not being taken in his pub.

Officers hailed the stop checks, the first such operation at the Blackbird, a success.

PC Alex Shepherd said: "Only one person refused to go through and that gentleman was arrested. I believe it was a success and we will be using the itemiser again at the Blackbird and wherever we see fit. This was the first in a line of initiatives to fight drugs we will bringing to The Leys.

"We got very good feedback and it went without a problem.

"The overwhelming opinion from people was that it is a good thing and meant they could enjoy a Friday night out without worry."

Everyone who wanted to go into the Blackbird on Friday between 6.30pm and 10.30pm had to give a sample for the drugs itemiser.

Swabs are taken from hands and belongings such as mobile phones and wallets before being fed into the machine.

The hi-tech device takes seconds to discover if they have been using or have come into contact with drugs.

It was used for the first time last year and is now regularly in operation outside pubs and clubs around the county.

The police operation had the full backing of the pub's management.

Mr Williams said: "I've got nothing to hide. Being one of the pubs with most of the ethnic minorities, people might think they are doing drugs so I wanted to prove to people they are not.

"I think it went very well, and I expected it to go very well. I was not expecting them to find anything.

"Some of the customers were quite embarrassed about it because most of them knew there is nothing happening here.

"Any time the police want to do it here they are free to do it. Being one of the pubs with most of the black community I would have thought they would have done it before.

"I have heard people saying the pub was raided for drugs, but people are misreading the situation.

"They are thinking about what happened 20 years ago."

A 56-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of class-A drugs and has been reported to the Crown Prosecution Service to review whether the case should be taken to court.

A 32-year-old man who refused to go through the itemiser was arrested for a public order offence.