Teachers called police after a 14-year-old pupil was spotted with what was believed to be a bag of cocaine in her pencil case.

The white powder turned out to be Lemsip - the student at Worthing High School had been imitating EastEnders character Janine Butcher, who has recently developed a cocaine habit in the TV soap.

Teachers were alerted when another student spotted a clear plastic bag of white powder in the girl's pencil case.

Police were called and the suspected drug was seized but tests revealed it was only a sachet of the cold and flu medicine.

Jayne Edmonds, the school's deputy headteacher, said: "As it turned out it was a copycat incident with a pupil imitating a character from EastEnders.

"This is the first time something like this has happened but it is common for the soaps to have an influence on pupils' behaviour."

The girl was excluded from school for two days after Friday's incident.

Mrs Edmonds said: "The school takes drugs education very seriously. The police were called in because we wanted to make certain there was no risk of any illegal substances on the premises.

"Police warned the girl of the seriousness of her actions and the school called an assembly to discuss the incident."

She said the school in South Farm Road, Worthing, had a strict policy on drugs and an ongoing education programme.

A police spokesman said: "The white substance turned out to be Lemsip cold powder. Advice was given."