Celebrities should teach kids to say no to drugs, says Mr Howard

He said it was surprising that rock singer Pete Doherty should dominate the newspapers despite his alleged drug taking and recent time in jail.

"Here you have a man who takes drugs and gets locked up - yet ends up on the front pages," said Mr Howard.

He also said the Conservatives would move cannabis back to a class B drug.

'Drugs aren't cool'

Mr Howard also gave his support to Conservative MP Nigel Evans's Private Members Bill which would give drug dealers an automatic seven-year minimum sentence on their third hard drugs conviction.

Here you have a man who takes drugs and gets locked up - yet ends up on the front pages Michael Howard

"Today, more than ever, we need responsible role models for our children - professional athletes prepared to say drugs are wrong, pop stars willing to say drugs aren't cool, actors who make clear that drugs ruin lives," said Mr Howard.

"Because we all know that youngsters are more influenced than ever before by the celebrities they see on TV, the musicians they listen to and who are featured in magazines.

"Some in the media give the impression that drug-taking is cool - is it any wonder that children believe this?

"I think many parents will have been rather surprised by the celebrity coverage given to Peter Doherty over the last month."

Curfew

On Tuesday, Mr Doherty, 25, was involved in a fight with Patrick Walden, guitarist with his band Babyshambles, at their biggest gig to date in London's Brixton Academy.

The former Libertines singer traded blows with Mr Walden. They were separated and bundled off stage before returning to end the set.

On Monday Mr Doherty faced blackmail and robbery charges in court, which he denies.

He is out on �50,000 bail and the judge agreed to extend his 2200 GMT curfew deadline by two hours so he could play the Brixton gig.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity SANE, said the charity had been campaigning for over 18 years for the government to take seriously the damaging effects of cannabis for those suffering from or vulnerable to mental illness.

"Far from being a relatively harmless recreational drug, for vulnerable young people the innocent spliff, or chilling out, could trigger a journey of life-long disintegration.