STREET theatre, steel bands and aspiring pop stars will be the order of the day this weekend when the sixth annual Drugs Awareness Day gets under way in Redcar.

Events will take place along the High Street all day on Saturday with the emphasis on a fun-filled family day, which brings home the anti-drugs messages and raises awareness in young people.

The event has been organised by Cleveland Police, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and youth and health agencies across east Cleveland. There will also be performances by young people who entered their bands in a Popstars-style event during the summer.

The youngsters from the area's secondary schools were given expert advice on confidence building, choreography, band management and make-overs.

Also on hand to entertain the crowds will be the Huntcliff School Steel Band, from Saltburn, Teesside Mohawks basketball players, and some lively street theatre from Team Players.

Cleveland Police will be on hand to show visitors what drugs and drug-taking paraphernalia looks like, and information and advice will be available. There will also be a qualified pharmacist talking about prescription drugs.

And if the day's activities get too much, people can talk to an aromatherapist and a qualified Indian head massage therapist for chill-out advice.

Event coordinator Margaret Moore, from the borough council, said: "Drugs affect every sector of the community and we hope this awareness-raising day will help remove some of the mystique which often surrounds the issue.

"Drugs are not going to go away unless we all play our part in combating the problem, so where better to start than with getting young people involved."