POLICE in Malmesbury have taken a step forward in their fight to clamp down on drug use in the town after discovering a teenager in possession of cannabis and a substance believed to be a class A drug.

In the early hours of last Wednesday, officers from Malmesbury community policing team stopped a car that was being driven suspiciously.

An 18-year-old male passenger jumped out of the vehicle and fled the scene with officers giving chase and catching the man in Foxley Road.

They searched the teenager and discovered a quantity of cannabis and a substance believed to be a class A drug, that was later sent for forensic analysis.

Acting Inspector Sean Brady of the North Wiltshire Community Policing Team praised the work of the officers.

He said: “This is excellent work by local officers in targeting those involved in the supply of drugs.

“This particular incident was a great example of team work and I’d like to praise the officer for his tenacity in chasing theyoung man involved on foot.

“Although this man has currently been released under investigation, our enquiries are ongoing.”

The arrest is the latest in a long line of recent drug-related incidents in Malmesbury.

Earlier last week, officers on a routine patrol in Conygre Mead Nature Reserve discovered a stash of items they described as “drug paraphernalia”, pictured, that was sent for destruction.

Meanwhile, on May 9, two male teenagers were stopped in the High Street with one found to be in possession of ketamine, a powerful tranquiliser that is a class B drug.

He is due to appear before Swindon Magistrates Court next week.

At the time, a police spokeswoman said: “It’s becoming an issue, we’ve always had problems in Station Road car park but now it is increasing.”

In response to the latest incident, Acting Inspector Brady said: “We continue to focus on local issues to improve the communities in which we are so fortunate to work.

“We understand that drugs can have a really negative impact on local communities and we would encourage anyone who suspects drug activity to report it via 101.”