COFFEE shop culture - Dutch style - could be on its way to Kidderminster as a Blakedown man "tests the water".

Cannabis campaigner Chris Hyde has teamed up with Julian Tindle, a Stourport multiple sclerosis sufferer, to explore the possibilities of opening a caf for both recreational and medical users of the illegal drug.

Buoyed by the imminent reclassification of cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug - which would make possession a non-arrestable offence - and the success of the Dutch Experience caf in Stockport, near Manchester, Mr Hyde, of Sculthorpe Road, hopes to form a co-operative and start the venture next year.

"We've been inspired by the Dutch Experience which started in September," he said. "The police use their discretion."

"But we don't intend to sell cannabis until the law allows," explained the 36 year-old, who suffers from progressive joint fusion illness ankylosing spondylitis, which severely impairs his mobility.

Mr Hyde claims there is support in Kidderminster for the plan.

Ultimately the campaigner - a former newsagent who has been out of work for two years and used cannabis daily to ease his condition - is aiming for legalisation.

"Legalisation will take away bad quality cannabis from the streets and stop criminalising people."

A spokeswoman for Kidderminster Police said: "The possession and supply of cannabis remains a criminal offence and appropriate police action will be taken if offences come to light.

"West Mercia Constabulary has no objection to the medicinal use of cannabis under the direction of a qualified medical practitioner and we welcome national clinical trials currently in progress.

"However, the medicinal use of cannabis falls a long way short of a "coffee shop" proposal.