A FORMER school site is being used to put some of Dorset Police's canine recruits through their paces.

The old Wimborne First School building, in School Lane, has been chosen as the newest training site for Dorset Police dogs as it has a range of rooms, hallways, kitchens and bathrooms so that the dogs can experience different environments.

Two types of training are happening in the school. The first is for General Purpose Police dogs, involving German Shepherd and German Shepherd/Malinois cross dogs that are being trained to search for people and property.

The second type of specialist training involves Spaniels and Labradors, which are being trained to locate substances or objects of interest to the police.

The dogs normally train for five hours at a time and will face a range of training scenarios, both indoors and outdoors as the police try to replicate situations that the dogs will come across operationally.

Police Inspector Neil Leat, of Dorset Police dog section, said: "The Dorset Police Dogs Team is really grateful to Dorset Council for the use of the old Wimborne First School building.

"It is instrumental in allowing us to improve and maintain the standards of all our police dogs.

"We are constantly on the lookout for venues to train our dogs and would be glad to hear from anyone else who would consider letting us use their vacant property."

The school site is one of a number of locations used to train the dogs, including a range of council buildings, private buildings and sports grounds across the county

Councillor Tony Ferrari, Dorset Council portfolio holder for economic growth, assets and property, said: "I'm really happy that Dorset Police are able to use the old school and put it to good use over the lockdown period as a training venue for their dogs.

"Any support that we can offer the emergency services during this time is important as we all continue to observe government guidance and stay at home."

The old Wimborne School building has been empty since the school was moved to Campanula Way as part of a new housing development in Wimborne. The future of the building is still being considered by Dorset Council.