Tony Blair has encouraged children to alert police to drug dealing near their schools.

The prime minister used the second of his regular internet broadcasts from Downing Street to step up the government's anti-drugs drive.

He unveiled plans to recruit 300 extra specialist drugs counsellors and to create a telephone hotline on which schoolchildren can report dealers selling drugs near their schools.

Mr Blair told how he worried about the drugs problem not only in his capacity as PM but also as a parent.

On specific measures to help counter the drugs threat, Mr Blair said:

"There's one immediate step that I can announce - a joint health and Home Office plan to recruit more than 300 extra specialist drug counsellors who can deal properly and effectively with those referred by the police for treatment.

"Some of these people want to get off drugs but unless they get treatment they don't get the chance.

"If we get young offenders off drugs, there'll be far more chance of stopping them reoffending, since they're often offending to feed the habit.

Rat on a Rat

"The adverts for these new posts will go out in the next few days."

Downing Street said the new counsellors would cost �500,000 in total.

Mr Blair said he was also considering an expansion of the Metropolitan Police's Rat on a Rat advertising scheme, designed to encourage the public to report drugs dealers.

"I am also going to be talking with the police and the education department this week about whether we can extend the Rat on a Rat idea to schools," said Mr Blair.

"Giving a dedicated number so that pupils can call in confidence if they see someone peddling drugs near their school.

"Young children are targeted. We have to engage them too in the fight against this evil world-wide trade."