A FATHER has written to Tony Blair asking him to curb the import of the drugs that killed his daughter.

Helen Traynor, a bakery assistant from Coast Road, Redcar, east Cleveland,who had been addicted to heroin since her mid-teens, died last December, aged 24, after taking a cocktail of heroin, alcohol and diazepam.

Her father Michael Traynor, 62, also from Coast Road, is writing a symptoms guide to help other parents notice if their child is taking drugs and, along with his wife, is planning to set up a helpline for parents. He believes the Government should do more to prevent heroin coming into the UK, especially from Afghanistan.

He has written to the Prime Minister demanding action and said in his letter that he felt it was easier for his daughter to get heroin than effective help.

He has also spoken to Redcar MP Vera Baird.

Ms Baird has also written to Mr Blair on behalf of Mr Traynor, but believes the Government is doing its best to stamp out the influx of heroin.

"Tony Blair is not going soft on this issue," she said.

"We are leading all the group of nations in Afghanistan in this.

"We have had quite a lot of success but it will not work very well until Afghanistan gets a proper Government.

"I have told Mr Traynor that I will help him get his symptoms guide book published and help find funding for the helpline he and his wife want to set up. I have written to Tony Blair and expect a reply soon.