POLICE are giving bouncers metal detectors in a knife crime crackdown.

Pub-goers will be electronically frisked on nights out in a new scheme.

Hundreds of revellers could be asked to step aside for the security checks before being able to enjoy a quiet drink or a night on the tiles.

The move, introduced in Chester-le-Street this week, is among measures brought in to combat knife crime and drink-fuelled violence.

Door staff at bars and clubs lining the County Durham town's busy Front Street will be armed with the handheld devices, handed out by Durham Police.

Using conflict management training, bouncers will stop and search anyone they suspect could be concealing a weapon.

The body scanners, currently in place at about 12 bars, have been paid for using funding of Ł25,000 from the area's Community Safety Partnership. Paul Mileham, manager of Bar Barracuda in Front Street, Chester-le-Street, will be using the scanners for the first time this weekend.

He said: "I think bringing in the scanners is a good thing because of the rise in knife crime. However, my worry is that it could alienating those customers who don't want to be searched.