DRUG sellers could exploit a legal loophole to peddle a potentially lethal drug on the streets of East Lancashire.

A recent change in the law forced sex shops, clubs and bars to take the drug amyl nitrite off their shelves.

But trading standards officials and council bosses are worried the drug, known as poppers, could make a comeback because the new regulations are unclear.

Amyl nitrite, which can also be used to treat heart diseases like angina, was available across the county until last month.

It was particularly popular with clubbers but health chiefs believe users often move on to harder drugs after trying poppers.

The drug is usually sniffed from a bottle but can cause blackouts and even death if swallowed. Other side-effects include nausea, headaches and dizziness. Recent changes mean amyl nitrite is now only available on prescription and a county wide crackdown was launched last month.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society is now backing moves to completely outlaw amyl nitrate.

And trading standards officers are hoping Lancashire County Council will give them extra powers to deal with the problem.

The extra powers would mean they would be able to take businesses which stock poppers to court.

Shops across East Lancashire have stopped stocking the drug but trading standards are still monitoring the situation.

Lancashire's deputy chief trading standards officer, David Brown, said: "The way the new law has been drafted has meant there is still some ambiguities.

"It appears poppers can be used as a medicine and the whole area is a bit of an unknown quantity.

"We have been lobbying central government to tighten up the legislation."

Trading standards are also urging anyone who comes across amyl nitrite on open sale to contact them immediately on 01282 424271.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.