Free drug testing kits are being offered to Enfield's state schools as part of a crackdown to tackle the growing problem of drug abuse among children.

From this week, free test kits are being handed out to UK secondary schools with pupils being tested with their parents' consent, if suspected of taking and selling drugs.

The initiative has been launched by suppliers Preventx, which is funding the project.

Drug testing in schools is backed by Prime Minister Tony Blair, but there is currently no Government cash for testing.

The project has been launched days after an 11-year-old schoolgirl collapsed from smoking heroin at a Glasgow school.

Kits involve a urine test to detect substances including cocaine, cannabis and amphetamines, and will also be offered to parents so they can test their children at home.

Preventx director Michelle Hart said: "We supply a high percentage of our testing kits to public schools, but owing to budget constraints, state schools sometimes cannot afford them.

"The Government has to realise something should be done to prevent an already escalating problem."

Schools which take part in the initiative will be hoping to emulate the success of Abbey School in Faversham, Kent.

Abbey School introduced drug testing measures in January 2005 and has since reported an increase in GSCE pass rates and a safer school environment.

Giles Bird, headteacher of Kingsmead School in Southbury Road, Enfield, said the initiative was under discussion, but no steps would be taken without consulting staff, students and parents.

He said: "Some parents might feel the tests would be relevant, but as far as the school is concerned, we will have to wait and see.

"I think urine tests would present problems such as invading pupils' dignity and I would prefer to use oral tests which are available on the market.

"Tests would be useful to get the young person taking drugs to cope with the situation and realise the implications drugs can have. So often they can feel very much alone."

A council spokeswoman said random drug testing in schools would be approached with caution and teachers must follow Government guidelines.

She said: "Despite the extensive development of drug testing programmes within the US, and the high profile support such programmes have received from political leaders in the UK, in fact there have been very few independent and rigorous evaluations undertaken to identify the impact of drug testing programmes.

"Where research has been carried out the evidence that such programmes lead to a reduction in illegal use is far from clear-cut."