CANON Michael Williams calls for drug education to be made available for young children as a way of combating drug abuse (Bolton Evening News, May 31).

"At the moment we teach older children, but, unfortunately, primary school pupils are now aware of these things", he says.

All primary schools try to tackle this difficult subject, but in Bolton we are fortunate to have a local branch of a drug education charity active in primary schools as well. Life Education delivers a programme of health and drug prevention education to children from nursery age up to 11 years old. The teaching takes a very positive approach and is very memorable, partly because it is delivered in a hi-tec mobile classroom with a professional educator specifically trained by Life Education nationally. The work is planned to fit the wider teaching plans of the schools.

Ten thousand children in the borough experience our local programmes each year and the project is highly regarded by teachers. The work is co-ordinated and subsidised through fundraising by a committee drawn from the six Rotary Clubs in the borough. Many local firms and organisations have sponsored the activity over the last five years.

The Life Education teaching programmes are soon to be totally refreshed and anyone wanting to see how the whole thing works can either contact me or visit www.lifeeducation.org.uk.

Ray Jefferson

Chairman, Bolton Life Education