The death of Durham University graduate Liam Brackell has prompted calls for restrictions on how prescription drugs are sold over the internet. Neil Hunter discovers how easy it is.

IT took only 30 seconds to find an Internet site where prescription drugs could be bought.

Just a few clicks of a mouse and dozens of drugs - which are available in the UK only after consultation with a GP - were on offer.

British-registered websites are regulated and must have a qualified medical practitioner who assesses and signs off all prescription applications.

But there are fears that others, based in places such as Hong Kong, India and South America, are selling medicines of unknown origin and quality, with little or no regulation.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency oversees the British-based sites but has no jurisdiction over the foreign companies which sell the powerful drugs online.

Some sites claim to give their customers online consultation, but all that the site found by The Northern Echo required was clicks on several boxes to order the drugs.

The site asked for a name, address, date of birth, method of payment and e-mail address before going on to a "medical questionnaire". There were 11 boxes to be ticked, against statements such as: "I agree not to take this medication if I have a history of high blood pressure".

Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham, said last night: "The Northern Echo's investigation clearly demonstrates that there is a loophole here, which obviously is potentially dangerous for people accessing drugs which should only really be supplied following medical advice."

Richard Ley, of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: "Anyone who is thinking of using the Internet to buy medicines should be asking themselves various questions.

"The first questions to ask are, how stringently do these sites check you have had appropriate medical advice? How far do you think that is satisfactory to you? Did you really feel you had a proper consultation?

"Other questions you should ask include, 'Am I really getting what they tell me I am getting? Is this product the pukka thing?' It is obviously a way counterfeit medicines can be introduced into the system.

"If you buy a CD which is a black market or pirate copy, that is not to be recommended.

"It might not work too well, it might break your CD player and you might have lost some money, but at least it's only a few quid. But this is your health, and it could affect you quite dramatically.

"To the best of your belief you have to be sure the medicines have been kept in the best of conditions and are within their sell-by dates.

"Before you risk it, you need to ask yourself all these questions."

Liam's uncle, Simon Gourd, said: "These sites have to be stopped. If they can clamp down on paedophilia sites, why not sites like these?"