TRADING Standards are to investigate reports that a Darwen newsagent's sold butane gas to a 15-year-old schoolboy.

The mother of the boy, who lives in the Whitehall area of the town, said she had found 14 empty cans of butane gas hidden in her son's bedroom and made him tell her where he bought them.

She added that her son was in his school uniform when he bought the cans and feels totally on her own in her battle to stop her son taking drugs.

Her comments come in the wake of the recent death of 15-year-old James Mather, from Accrington, who died after collapsing in suspected sniffing den. A butane canister was found nearby.

She said: "It's like banging your head against a brick wall - as a parent it's so worrying and stressful. I can't even imagine the pain James's parents and family must be going through.

"I know my son is taking drugs and sniffing butane gas. It was the usual story of a perfect son changing at 14 to a completely different person, missing school and having no interest in football."

She said she never realised her son, a pupil at Moorland High School, was even sniffing gas until he didn't come home one night.

She said: "He has broken my heart. He used to be the perfect son before this started. I feel like I'm riding a rollercoaster of emotion.

"He is so moody and obsessed with money all the time. I feel completely on my own as a parent."

Chris Allen, from Trading Standards, said: "It is an offence to sell butane gas to anyone under 18 and we are taking action."

He added that in the past two months there had been a test purchasing exercise of butane gas throughout the Blackburn area - in which youngsters 'purchase' gas canisters on behalf of Trading Standards.

Keith Owen, of the charity Lifeline, which gives information on drugs and solvent abuse, said: "It is a common problem that people feel lonely and, although there are organisations, there are not enough.

"It is a difficult and complicated situation and the lady in question is welcome to contact me on 01254 677427 and I will be happy to talk to her. "