Illegal drugs will once again be hunted out by Cumbria’s sniffer dogs at the biggest music festival in the county.

More than 30,000 people are expected to arrive this weekend for Kendal Calling, at Lowther deer park close to Penrith.

The event has in the past been marred by drugs tragedy and Cumbria Police want to stop illegal substances from entering the festival in the first instance.

The county force have been at the site all week taking part in sweeps of the grounds and checking for any areas drugs could be hidden.

Festival-goers will all be checked by the dog unit when they enter and the animals will be on-site all weekend.

Officers have also been searching traders as they arrive and have already removed people who had tried to bring illegal items in.

Bronze Commander for the event, Inspector Kim Brennand, said: “The police dog unit started on Monday and they are currently searching caterers and traders - the first three days have been about searching them.

“Our role, in conjunction with the organisers, is to try and limit the number of controlled drugs and illegal substances getting on to the site.

“Historically, we’ve had traders attempt to bring drugs in for other people, thinking they wouldn’t be searched.

“The police dogs search by the nose, so the work that they can do in the vehicles is much quicker than getting officers to do that job, that’s why we use police dogs.

“One of our dogs has had a find in an interior light, it could have potentially taken us two or three hours to find: it took the dog a couple of minutes.

“Another reason for the dogs is we want people to get in quickly - we don’t want to ruin people’s experience of coming to the festival.”

The police are doing everything in their power to keep revellers safe, by using information about drugs from other forces and from other festivals.

Insp Brennand added: “We have a good relationship with other forces around the country and other festivals that have happened.

“We share that information, so if there are any concerns from the others festivals, we can get that information out there.

“At this stage, I’m not too concerned about anything that is coming. We want people to enjoy themselves and not bring drugs. Leave them at home.”

The first festival-goers will arrive tomorrow.