"ALL medicines are drugs but not all drugs are medicines" was the message given to children during a six-week drugs awareness course.

The structured lessons were run at Walkwood Middle School by beat manager Pc Richard Waterhouse, of Crabbs Cross police station.

The course covered all drugs and the classes they fall into and pupils were taught the difference between medicines which benefit people and harmful illegal drugs.

Pc Waterhouse said: "Drugs are an important issue.

''The message I wanted to get across was that all medicines are drugs but not all drugs are medicines. I explained to the children about different drugs and situations they may come across.

"I stressed the consequences of drugs and the devastating effect they can have on people and their families."

Pc Waterhouse said the children and parents were all given booklets to take home.

"I wanted to let all the parents know exactly what the children had been taught so they could then follow it up with them at home," he added.

Teacher Judy Harris said: "It was very successful. The personal touch Richard brought and his experience was very valuable.

''He gave some real-life experiences and the children took notice a lot more from an outsider, especially an officer in uniform, which gave a bit more impact."