THE parents of Ledbury heroin death girl Rachel Whitear are to join a BBC drug debate this weekend.

Rachel's mum Pauline and stepfather Mick Holcroft, who released harrowing pictures of the 21-year-old's body to warn other youngsters of the dangers of heroin, will appear on Sunday's Viewpoint Midlands, to be aired on BBC2 at 1pm.

The former Bath University student was found dead in a dingy bedsit in Exmouth, Devon, in May 2000.

The photographs her parents released as part of an educational video for schoolchildren, showed her dead, still clutching the syringe which killed her.

"The couple will join a panel debating questions such as why should tobacco and alcohol be legal when users of other drugs can be fined or jailed," said a spokesman for the show.

"And, should the Midlands copy South London's softer approach to cannabis and do our drugs laws make any sense at all?"

The hard-hitting programme will also report on the Nottingham mum whose two sons are hopelessly addicted to crack cocaine.

Viewers who want to have their say, or put a question to the studio guests, can call freephone 0800 015 3033 or e-mail: viewpointmidlands

@bbc.co.uk