by Jo Sword

A Kent mother who lost her daughter to drugs is backing a new awareness campaign.

Images will be projected onto prominent buildings in the county warning people of the dangers of using drugs.

Angela Pett has agreed that a picture of her daughter Haniska can be used in these images.

The 20-year-old hairdresser from Gravesend died after taking contaminated cocaine on October 19 2008.

"She went out for the evening and felt the need the following morning for some cocaine, went out and bought some from who she classed as a friend. Took it at about 12.30 and by 7.30 she was dead.

"She was a beautiful ordinary girl and anybody can die from taking it, they are not invincible."

Mrs Pett has been working with Kent Police and hopes this campaign will be more effective previous ones.

"There is a lot of tunnel vision when you are a user, no matter if it is cocaine or other drugs. As far as the user is concerned that is their life. Even if we stop one or two people taking it and dying, that is our campaign, that is what we are here for.

Audio: Angela Pett tells of the devastating effects of drugs on youngsters

"Beaming these messages in public places will reach those who need it most and help save lives.”

The projectors can beam a 30ft wide image and have been trialled in Dartford town centre in November. They were most recently used in Maidstone during National Tackling Drugs Week where images were shone onto the Crown Court building.

Superintendent Neil Jerome, Head of Kent Police’s Crime and Partnerships Reduction department, says: “The projectors offer us much more scope for interacting with local communities. People walking through a town centre at night will see the messages during their night out. It is more effective than handing out leaflets which many people socialising in the evening do not want to carry around.”