Nine pupils have been suspended from a north Wales secondary school after they were allegedly caught with cannabis.

The students, from Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph, Denbighshire, have been sent home for up to 10 days.

Senior staff at the school have spoken to the parents of the pupils involved.

Governors at the school are supportive of the school's actions Gareth Wynne Jones, chair of governors

It is not clear whether the pupils were said to have been caught smoking cannabis, or in possession of it.

The headteacher of the 800-pupil school, Meurig Rees, has said the situation is being dealt with internally.

North Wales Police have not been informed of the incident, according to a spokesman.

Discipline

Mr Rees said the board of governors had been informed and had backed the action taken.

Gareth Wynne Jones, chair of governors, said: "The governors had been made aware of the fact that nine pupils have been suspended for breaking school rules.

"The matter was being dealt with internally, and governors at the school are supportive of the school's actions.

"I don't think it would be appropriate to comment further on the matter."

Cannabis is now as common among the under aged as alcohol was some 30 years ago Aneurin Owen, director of CAIS

This would be the fifth time in 2002 that pupils at schools in north and mid Wales have been disciplined over drugs.

Aneurin Owen, director of CAIS, the drug and alcohol agency in Wales said: "The statistics suggest that by the time children reach 15 about 70% will have been offered cannabis with a large number then actually taking it.

"Cannabis is now as common among the under aged as alcohol was some 30 years ago.

"There is a pattern developing whereby young people now use more than one drug.

"As this is the case within communities in general then it is almost inevitable that it is going to filter through into the schools.

"The ease with which drugs such as cannabis can be acquired coupled with a relaxation in attitude contributes greatly to the problem.

"The message that it is dangerous and that it can lead to other problems needs to be reinforced."