ANXIOUS parents will soon be able to test their children for drugs - thanks to an idea by a North-East man.

Darlington-born Les Vasey, a former police commander, is marketing mouth-swab kits with laboratory analysed results produced in 48 hours.

He said: "You may think it is a bit extreme, but we are living in an extreme situation and many parents are desperate. It all depends how it is handled."

He is calling for a "robust'' anti-drugs policy and monitoring in all schools with testing for teachers as well as pupils.

"There is no way we can defeat this problem unless we are radical,'' said the former drugs action team co-ordinator, who will discuss his ideas with Home Secretary David Blunkett next week.

Mr Vasey, managing director of Modern Health Systems, has been on a visit to the region with colleague Gerry Dickinson, a former head of the West Yorkshire Police Drugs Squad.

Mr Vasey said there has been a good response from industry and groups in the region to the idea of the kits.

Tina Williams, of Parents Against Narcotics in the Community, said: "Parents would not use these kits willy-nilly, but only if they were sufficiently worried to warrant suspicions."