Pub and clubgoers in Brighton and Hove will be tested for drugs as they enter a venue.

City police are the latest in Sussex to obtain an Ion Track machine which checks for cocaine, heroin, cannabis and other illegal substances.

Officers and licensees will sample surfaces in clubs and take swabs from customers to feed into the machine.

Random searches already exist on the doors of pubs and clubs and police warned users and pushers would now stand a much greater chance of being caught and prosecuted.

A force spokeswoman said: "Police sniffer dogs will also be used for random checks on people queuing to get into venues.

"The dogs are highly trained and can detect the presence of controlled drugs and lead to the suspect being searched."

The spokeswoman said Ion Track can detect minute traces which could have come from a bank note used previously in drug taking.

She added: "Or they might show on someone's hand which has been shaken by someone handling drugs.

"If the sample is far stronger it may indicate very recent drug activity. The device is extremely sensitive and is able to show the two extremes in its readings."

The police licensing department is working with all licensees in the city to tackle the supply and use of drugs on their premises and a large number have already agreed to sign a voluntary authority for police to use Ion Track on their premises.

The spokeswoman said: "They have welcomed this more proactive approach. Other licensed premises are being approached to join in and we would like all venues to come on board."

She said: "Samples will be taken from surfaces inside venues to identify high-use areas including toilet cubicles so that measures can be taken by the venue to reduce drug activity there.

"This initiative has proved highly successful in reducing drug use and drug supply in venues in other areas of Sussex.

"It is something that will become a regular sight at venues across Brighton and Hove."