PEOPLE in possession of mephedrone are urged to hand it in to police before it becomes illegal on Friday (April 16).

PEOPLE in possession of mephedrone are urged to hand it in to police before it becomes illegal on Friday (April 16).

The drug, which has been linked to a number of teenage deaths in the UK in recent months, will become illegal this Friday.

The so called 'legal high', which is sold as plant fertiliser on the Internet, will be classified as a Class B drug.

Paul Netherton, Assistant Chief Constable, said: "Mephedrone is a harmful drug and this is your opportunity to hand over the drug and have it safely disposed of before it becomes unlawful to possess it.

"People need to know that from Friday if they are found with it in their possession, they could have a criminal record with long term consequences as a result."

Anyone possessing the substance after this date could be prosecuted and face up to five years in prison. The maximum sentence for dealing mephedrone will be 14 years.

Members of the public can take the drug into their local police station for its safe disposal today (April 14) and on Thursday.