A PORTRAIT and two photographs of the Queen, a cabinet full of engraved silverware, cosy armchairs, a writing desk -- and a hidden stash of cannabis.

Those were the contents of Mayor John Walsh's parlour when Bolton's new dogged detective came visiting.

But Cllr Walsh was not marched off to the police station for questioning because the drugs had been "planted" to demonstrate the skills of two-year-old Springer Spaniel Charlie.

Charlie is the town's first police dog dedicated entirely to discovering illegal drugs.

And he did not waste any time -- scurrying around the Mayor's Parlour, Mayor's secretary's office and Mayoress's office so quickly that his wagging tail was almost a blur.

When he found the hidden drugs he stood uncharacterstically still, leaping back into action as he was praised by handler PC Richard Fallows. Six weeks of intensive training have clearly paid off.

Rarely can a visitor to the town hall have charmed councillors and staff so thoroughly.

He was friendly, excitable and clearly enjoying himself.

It is perhaps no surprise that Cllr Walsh himself and Mayoress Christine Walsh took such a shine to him.

The couple have a spaniel of their own, Bruce, from the same springer rescue centre in Warrington from which Charlie was plucked.

And their previous pet, Sam, was a springer an ex-police search dog who would still sniff around the edge of a room, as trained, every time he entered.

"He once found some drugs on my secretary," said Cllr Walsh. "But they were anti-inflammatories and it was all above board!"

After the demonstration Cllr Walsh said: "I'm very impressed. Clearly drugs are a real problem and if we can tackle that at source it will be superb and benefit the whole town."

Charlie is being funded through the Communities Against Drugs scheme, a partnership between the council and the police.