THEY may look cute and cuddly but these two dogs were on a very important training exercise when they visited the Worcester News offices today.

Scooby, a crossbreed, and Millie, a yellow Labrador, may not have a nose for a good story but they were able to sniff out controlled substances and money which had been planted by police officers in the newspaper's offices on Hylton Road.

Both dogs managed to successfully locate the items and were rewarded with a chew on their favourite toys.

Adrian Wykes, West Mercia Police's police dog instructor, said it was important for Millie, aged four, and Scooby, aged eight, to train in realistic environments.

He said: "Every year the dogs have to be assessed on what we call a licence to say they are safe to work and finding all substances and scents we want them to find.

"It's important to come to places like the newspaper's offices because it is a realistic environment which helps prepare them for operational work.

"When they come in areas like this there is all kinds of distractions - people tapping on keyboards, different smells, phones ringing, talking.

"It's been a successful day and they've all performed really well."

As well as visiting the Worcester News offices, Scooby and Millie, who have been police dogs for three and seven years respectively, have been training at other buildings and inside vehicles too.