YOUNGSTERS from a St Annes theatre group have waged their own personal war on drugs by writing, producing and performing a special play to warn schoolchildren of the dangers of illegal substances.

The actors and actresses from Red Rose Theatre Group (pictured) devised a special play entitled 'Drug-Buster' over the summer to warn primary schoolchildren about drugs before they moved to secondary school.

They then performed it to pupils at Heyhouses Endowed CE Primary School and St Thomas' CE School as part of a drugs awareness evening which also featured a hard hitting presentation by the health authority and a workshop for parents. Director of the group, Jan Kemball, said it was terrible that children as young as ten need educating about drugs, but that prevention is better than cure.

She said: "The play focused on the dangers of ecstasy -- we thought if there are drugs in some secondary schools, then as sad as that is youngsters need to be fully clued up about the dangers." She said the play began life as an improvised sketch and quickly developed into a 25 minute piece, in which a young pupil is offered ecstasy and a fantasy character called 'drugbuster' comes to the rescue. But the play has a rather hard hitting message, as the pupil takes the drug and dies.

Mrs Kemball said: "Originally the children thought about doing it as a pantomime, but the subject matter is so important that it needed to be more hard hitting." She added that the children seemed to enjoy the play and parents complemented the group on a very educational performance.

Any youngsters interested in joining Red Rose Theatre Group should call Jan on (01253) 734151 or simply turn up at their meetings.

Those aged 8-12 meet every Wednesday at 5.30pm, while 12-16 year olds meet every Tuesday at 6pm, both at the Parish Centre at Our Lady, Star of the Sea in St Alban's Road. Pictured are the cast of Drug-Buster, back l-r: Jasmine Edwards, James Warburton, Louise Settle, Amanda Collins, Elizabeth Broughton. Front l-r: Alex Dangerfield (drugbuster), James Dangerfield, Sandra Currie, Ken Carter.