PARENTS are being urged to attend a major public meeting being staged to alert people to the dangers of illegal drugs.

Staffordshire's Chief Constable John Giffard and Congleton MP Ann Winterton are among the high profile speakers invited to next week's meeting at Biddulph Town Hall.

Labour life peer Lord Davies will also speak about the growing drugs menace at the meeting, being staged at 7.45pm on October 15.

"Illegal drugs are a cancer rotting society and drug abuse is the most serious social problem in the country,'' said John Gannon, who suggested the meeting.

"There's a lot of drug pushing in Biddulph and Congleton, and my message to parents is - your child could be the next victim.''

Mr Gannon is vice-chairman of the Biddulph branch of the Moorlands Conservative Association, which is sponsoring the meeting, although Mr Gannon stressed the non-party political nature of the initiative.

"This is a non-party political campaign to alert the public to this cancer in our society, and we have invited speakers to outline the issues and do something about it.

"Drugs are blighting the lives of our young people, are the cause of much crime, and good, loving parents are often the last to learn of their children's involvement with drugs.''

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