Children have been learning how everyday products can kill.

Bradford charity the Chantelle Bleau Memorial Fund is targeting 5,000 children in nine schools this week with a campaign raising awareness of volatile substance abuse (VSA).

The charity was set up in memory of Chantelle who died in 1997, aged 16, after sniffing gas from an aerosol. The charity works to reduce substance abuse and runs an ongoing schools campaign alongside its Bradford support centre.

This week's campaign involved assemblies and lessons held by youth workers recruited by the charity from the Abundant Life Centre.

At Wyke Manor School pupils aged 11-plus watched a video featuring Chantelle's parents talking of their devastation at her death, and footage of Chantelle taking part in an anti-drugs play.

"Chantelle was aware of the dangers of drugs but didn't know about the deadly effects of VSA, or sniffing," said the charity's development worker Christian Allsworth.

"She died the first time she tried it. I believe that if she'd had an education programme like this she would have made more informed choices and wouldn't have tried sniffing.

"VSA kills six times more teenagers than Ecstasy, according to the Office for National Statistics. Yet VSA isn't illegal and everyday products like cigarette lighter fuel and hairspray are easily available. You can buy a can of lighter refill for as little as 60p." The campaign also involved a quiz, based on a leaflet produced by the charity with West Yorkshire Police, and games.

Paul Schofield, senior teacher at the school, said: "Volatile Substance Abuse is one of those subjects that's often overlooked compared to other illegal drug education programmes."

Other schools taking part are: Beckfoot Grammar School, Belle Vue Boys School, Bradford Cathedral Community College, Greenhead Grammar School, Queensbury School, Salts Grammar School, St Joseph's Catholic College, and Thornton Grammar School.