A MOTHER who spearheaded a battle to ban the sale of fatal thinners after the death of her daughter has oncluded her successful 11-year campaign.

Mrs Sheila Kirkman (54), of Westminster Avenue, Whitefield, has now wound up her pressure group, ELK (Eliminate Lethal Kicks), which was instrumental in bringing about a key change in the law.

She launched her campaign in 1990, months after her 14-year-old daughter, Emma Louise Kendall, died from inhaling fumes from typewriter correction fluid.

Emma, the youngest of four children, died in February 1990 in a neighbour's home after sniffing the thinners.

An inquest was told the teenager, a pupil of St Monica's RC High School, had bought the substance from a stationer's shop. A post mortem revealed several haemorrhages to almost every vital organ in her body. Mrs Kirkman said the tragic event gave her the motivation to push for laws prohibiting over-the-counter sales of such substances.

When ELK was initially established, the law made it illegal for retailers to sell solvents to youngsters under the age of 18 if they believed they were to be used for other than their intended use.

But in October 1999, the law was significantly tightened to make it illegal for shops to sell lighter refills and derivatives of butane, including thinners, to anyone under 18.

Months after Emma's death, the distraught mum wrote to the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and enlisted the help of Bury South MP David Sumberg to push for laws prohibiting over-the-counter sales of solvents.

Over the years, Mrs Kirkman has spoken at numerous meetings and seminars on drugs abuse and forged links with various related organisations such as Lifeline and Network VSA (Volatile Substance Abuse).

And she feels ELK's national lobbying helped shape the change in the law three years ago.

"When the new legislation was passed, I felt complete relief and I was ecstatic. It was absolutely amazing to think that at last someone had heard what we'd been saying."

She added: "When we started our campaign, we were told that no-one would listen to us."

Mrs Kirkman paid a heartfelt tribute to her associate, Whitefield man Mr Michael Brooks. For nine years, he had worked tirelessly to support ELK and its aims. He died one month after the new law was introduced.

She added: "Now, I'm certain there is help out there for people with problems relating to the misuse of solvents.

"Hopefully, my campaign has helped people to become aware of these problems."

But on a cautionary note, Mrs Kirkman continued: "I am also aware the way things are these days. The misuse of drugs and solvents has escalated and more people are using them."