A MOTHER whose 16-year-old son was killed by a methadone overdose has pledged her support for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's anti-drugs campaign.

Police solicitor Niamh Noone-Astles, of Langho, praised the Evening Telegraph for having the courage to tackle the problem with the Drive Out Drugs campaign.

She has been a strong anti-drugs campaigner since her son Gareth died from the overdose in 1995.

She said: "I have been absolutely impressed by the Evening Telegraph's campaign.

"I think the dual approach via the police and the drugs helpline is excellent and is a way of getting a grip on the problem.

"As the Chief Constable Pauline Clare has said, what we need to do is to educate and inform.

"In a way Blackburn is now a flagship town for tackling the problem, with the coroners having expressed their concern. "We also have the Home Secretary on our patch, so if we cannot get anything done about the drug problem then who will?

"Drugs is such an unattractive problem to tackle, but it is heartening to see that the Evening Telegraph is getting a grip on it."

Mrs Noone-Astles has become a supporter of the Lancashire-based Life Education Centres, a drug prevention charity which uses mobile classrooms to present drug programmes to youngsters.

People wanting to give information about drug dealers can also ring the Crimestoppers telephone line 0800 555111.

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