KEEPING children off drugs is the aim of a new course for parents being launched in Malvern by a former headteacher.

Peter Buchanan, head of Dyson Perrins CE High School for 20 years, will start teaching the successful anti-drugs course How To Drug Proof Your Kids later this month.

He discovered the course through his work with the charity Care for the Family and was so impressed he trained as a presenter.

"It hasn't been available in this area to date and it seemed like a very good thing to do," said Mr Buchanan, of Malvern Wells.

"I've been looking at doing this for a while but I have more time now I'm no longer running a school."

Staff at Malvern's Turning Point drug support centre welcomed news of the course.

Spokesman Alex Hunter said: "Drug education is very important and we welcome any drug awareness programmes that help get this across."

The course encourages parents to get to know their children better and provides an action plan to encourage responsible behaviour as well as statistical information on drug misuse.

Mr Buchanan said the course would encourage people to discuss the issue.

"It's not a series of lectures, there will be plenty of group discussion and participation," he said.

"It's essentially an opportunity for concerned parents to feel confident that they can encourage their children to make good choices."

Clive Smith, district councillor for community health and wellbeing, said he hoped the course would help parents tackle the drugs issue.

"We know drugs are a great problem and will support anything that can be done to detect it or help," he said.

The six-week course takes place at Priory Lodge Hall on Thursday evenings, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, starting January 26.

Places are limited to 30 and the cost is £10 for all six sessions, although Mr Buchanan hopes to repeat the course later in the year if there is suitable demand.

To reserve a place or for further information, contact him on 01684 566334.