Education leaders in South Lakeland have reacted cautiously to the news that the local MP and shadow education secretary Tim Collins is looking to introduce random drug testing in every school that wants to.

The Westmorland and Lonsdale MP has vowed to introduce testing should the Conservatives win the next election.

"What I'm proposing is that we should give head teachers power and funding to introduce random drug testing if they so choose," he said.

"In Cumbria we are more fortunate and have much less of a problem but that's not to say we are not without drug problems."

Random drug testing in schools has come to the fore after a national newspaper sponsored a six-month trial at a Kent school earlier this month. In the experiment, pupils had to consent to the tests but Mr Collins wants to allow teachers to bring in a zero tolerance policy if they wish.

"If a head teacher wants to say everybody must agree to be tested that should be an option available," he said.

"It will give head teachers as much discretion as possible. I'm sure there are head teachers not wanting to touch it with a barge pole but those who want to should have the facility to carry out tests."

Mr Collins said it would cost £300m to provide sufficient facilities for every LEA to make testing kits available to all secondary schools.

In South Lakeland, the feeling is money could be better spent on educating children about drugs. Spokeswoman for education at Cumbria County Council Coun Joan Stocker said: "In the private sector, schools have done random drug testing and been successful but it will need a lot of co-operation and it's an area of conflict.

"I think an awful lot of money could be used in preventative and educative ways doing good rather than assuming people are criminals."

Chairman of the South Lakes Federation and head teacher at Dallam School, Milnthorpe, Steve Holdup, said they would need to know a lot more about the specific proposals.

"The South Lakes schools already have strong and positive policies for combating drugs use for young people but we would consider anything that could help us in that," he said.

Head teacher at Kirkbie Kendal School Phil Hyman said it would be interesting to see what the outcome in Kent is. "The tests are for illegal drugs but I understand a particular issue among young people in Cumbria is alcohol and that might not be picked up in a random drugs test," he said.