A leading drugs charity has attacked proposals by the Shadow Home Secretary to increase drug testing in schools and force addicts who do not complete their treatment to be sent to prison.

Drugscope, the UK's leading drug information charity reacted angrily to Conservative proposals by David Davis MP to increase random drug testing among pupils and criticised plans to make drug offenders choose rehabilitation or prison.

At the Conservative's annual conference in Bournemouth, Mr Davis said the deadly and serious threat of drugs was ruining lives across the country.

But Martin Barnes, the chief executive of Drugscope, said:"We do not accept that random drug testing in schools is a proportionate or effective response to drug use among children and young people."