Thousands of pupils across the district are taking part in special lessons organised by a Bradford charity to warn them about the dangers of solvent abuse.

The Chantelle Bleau Memorial Fund has taken on a team of 50 extra youth workers to help them spread the message at 13 Bradford schools.

During a week-long campaign they are taking assemblies and lessons to educate youngsters about the life-threatening dangers of volatile substance abuse (VSA) and sniffing substances such as lighter fuel, glue or aerosols.

The Yorkshire and Humberside region was ranked in the top three in the UK for deaths from solvent abuse in 2002 with six people losing their lives.

The charity organising the lessons was set up in memory of Chantelle Bleau, of Little Horton, who died of a heart attack aged 16 after inhaling gas from a lighter refill for the first time.

It has been working for the past seven years to reduce fatalities across the region and since it was set up there have been no solvent abuse deaths in Bradford.

The charity's development worker Christian Allsworth said the annual campaigning week was a boost to the ongoing work in the district's secondary schools.

"The extra attention that this week brings will further educate not just young people but also parents who are often unaware about the silent epidemic of VSA," he said.

"Our main aim is to inform, educate and provoke young people to think about the danger of VSA and by using the story of Chantelle's tragic death we hope to prevent the unnecessary death of any more young people from abusing and misusing these everyday products."

The first round of sessions was held yesterday at Thornton Grammar School.

Other schools taking part are Beckfoot in Bingley, Belle Vue Girls in Heaton, Bingley Grammar, Grange Technology College in Great Horton, Hanson in Swain House, Laisterdyke Business and Enterprise College in Laisterdyke, Nab Wood in Cottingley, Oakbank in Keighley, Queensbury, Tong in Whetley Hill and Wyke Manor in Wyke.