A DRIVER detained for possessing Class A drugs on the M27 tested positive for cocaine just hours after release.

A red Nissan Micra was stopped in Christchurch in Dorset last night on the first day of the Christmas drink and drug drive campaign after officers said the driving "fell below what was expected."

The same vehicle has been reported for poor driving several times recently in the Boscombe area of Bournemouth.

A spokesman for the Dorset Police No Excuse team said last night: "When stopped, the male driver appeared to be under the influence of drugs, a drugwipe was conducted which came back as positive for cocaine, so he was arrested.

Winchester man more than twice the drink drive limit

"The driver explained he had been arrested by Hampshire police this morning on the M27 as he was found in possession of a quantity of class A drugs. He was released this afternoon whilst that was investigated. The driver admitted to getting a taxi back to his vehicle and travelling back into Dorset. We are not sure if he came straight back or stopped off somewhere."

Officers said the driver provide a blood sample which has been sent off for analysis. He was released under investigation.