A BOY was taken ill after smoking cannabis at an East Lancashire grammar school -- two weeks before 12 pupils were suspended for experimenting with the drug.

The group of Clitheroe Grammar School students, believed to be girls, were disciplined after being found with cannabis on school grounds last week.

But today, Inspector Bob Ford, of Clitheroe, police confirmed officers were contacted by the school two weeks ago when a male pupil was taken ill after smoking cannabis at the school.

"The incident was reported to us and we have made inquiries which are ongoing, but it will be an internal matter for the school to deal with," he said. "We will support them in any action they take." He said no further action would be taken by police.

Clitheroe Grammar School refused to comment on the incident involving the boy, but said yesterday that a number of students found experimenting with cannabis had been suspended in line with school policy, and would be counselled and supported on their return.

Police confirmed they were aware of the incident involving the group of pupils and were investigating, but a spokesperson said: "It is up to the school to contact us if it wishes to pursue criminal charges."The force's stance on possession of cannabis being a criminal offence has not altered, although it welcomed the initiative taken by Home Secretary David Blunkett last week to reduce it from a class B to a class C drug. A spokesperson: "We need to explore it further with scientific and medical experts before making a decision on force policy."

The grant-maintained school takes pupils from throughout East Lancashire.

Lancashire county council's education department said it was not aware of any other recent incidents involving drug taking in the county's schools.