A GWENT school has a new weapon to use in the fight against pupils taking up smoking.

Blackwood Comprehensive School has bought a new machine, called a Smokerlyser, which can detect minute levels of carbon monoxide in breath.

The machine is being used to educate pupils rather than punish them. Sue Russell, head of personal, social and health education in the school, said: "We're trying not to panic them, but to let them know what is happening to their bodies."

The Blackwood school is one of several across the country trying out the machine in a bid to cut levels of smoking among youngsters.