LANDLORD Ian Martin is furious after a drugs raid shut down his pub on the busiest night of the week and caused him and his wife to be strip-searched.

Dozens of police swarmed on The Royal Foresters pub in Littledean Hill Road on Friday and officers arrested a woman and two men on suspicion of drug possession.

Ian said those arrested – one of whom has been given a caution and the other whom has since been de-arrested – were DJs setting up for a private party in a function room and had no connection with the pub.

"We lost about £1,000 in takings which is disastrous for any pub nowadays," he said.

"Our pub was shut for around three hours while they were here and it turned out to be a total waste of time for the police.

"They tell everyone that they have arrested people here and it sounds awful to the public.

"The pub has a good local following – we've thrown the druggies out."

Writing on the Facebook page of Gloucestershire Constabulary, Ian's wife Joan criticised the raid.

She wrote: "The premises were searched and nothing was found but we are targets, it seems, and never get away scot free when it comes to raids. Let this not be the case that the Royal Foresters gets the blame in general as a reflection on us or our customers."

A 38-year-old man from Chepstow was initially arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a Class B drug. He was later given a formal caution for being concerned in production of cannabis and possession of cocaine.

A woman from Cinderford was arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A and Class B controlled drugs. She has since been de-arrested and has been asked to return to a police station at a later date. A 34-year-old man from Coleford was arrested on suspicion of possession of Class A and Class B controlled drugs and has been bailed to return to the police station on September 3.

Detective Inspector Ian Fletcher, who co-ordinated the policing activity, said: "This was an intelligence-led operation aimed at stamping out the sale and suspected illegal use of drugs on a licensed premises.

"The Forest is generally a low crime area and we want it to stay that way."