RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has thrown his weight behind his party's challenge to Home Secretary Jack Straw over tackling drug use among children.

Tory leader William Hague has announced his party is exploring the possibility that adults who supply Class B drugs to children should get a mandatory seven-year prison sentence.

Those who supply Class A drugs to children and are convicted twice of the offence would be jailed for life.

The move is an attempt to out-flank Blackburn MP Mr Straw on his get-tough policy on supplying drugs to children.

Mr Evans, a Tory front-bencher and a vice-president of the party said: "As most people believe, the best way of stopping children from using drugs is to clamp down on those who supply them with drugs.

"Everyone knows those who peddle drugs to our children are some of the very worse criminals in our society.

"We propose to tackle the trade in drugs by strengthening the Crime (Sentences) Act introduced by the last Conservative government.

"This entails that anyone convicted for a second time "serious" sexual or violent offence receives an automatic life sentence save in exceptional circumstances.

"Our proposals would ensure that those who are convicted of supplying Class A drugs to children a second time should similarly received a life sentence."

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