The mother of heroin victim Rachel Whitear has been named as one of Britain's bravest women by Best magazine.

Pauline Holcroft, of Ledbury, denies that she has been brave, even though images of her daughter lying dead from an overdose are being used in a national campaign to bring an anti-drugs message home to school children.

She said: "I don't see how it's brave to tell your daughter's story. The more we can highlight the problems of young people with drugs, the better. I don't want another young person going through what Rachel did."

It is a message Mrs Holcroft and her husband Mick took to 10 Downing Street this year, for a meeting with Tony Blair.

In the New Year, Rachel's Story will form a part of drugs education in schools across the UK, following its launch last month at John Masefield High School, in Ledbury, where Mrs Holcroft once worked as a classroom assistant.

In announcing the award to Mrs Holcroft, Fay Darkins of Best, said: "The decision to use Rachel's picture is a brave one; but Pauline believes it will drive home the fact that drugs are not harmless."

The eight chosen women were treated to a makeover from the Best fashion team at Selsdon Park the country house hotel, near Croydon, on November 15.