A DUCHESS has been given permission to grow cannabis, cocaine and opium in her gardens to teach youngsters about the danger of drugs.

The Home Office has granted a licence to grow cannabis and the caco plant, from which cocaine is made, at the Duchess of Northumberland's Alnwick Garden.

The garden's charity applied to the Home Secretary for a licence to grow the plants.

The drugs will be grown alongside more than 50 dangerous plants in the country's largest public Poison Garden.

Hallucinogenic mushrooms, opium poppies and seeds will also be grown.

The Poison Garden has been designed by Peter Wirtz, from Belgium, in the shape of flames to illustrate its "danger, intrigue and excitement".

Although it is almost completed and will open this winter, many of the plants will not grow until the spring.

A spokesman for the garden said: "The abuse of drugs is a very important issue, and the charity has been working with drug awareness groups in the region to provide a new avenue to help people talk about drug abuse.

"This will grab their attention to learn about dangerous and poisonous plants.

"The most dangerous plants will be grown in cages and there will be a lot of security.