THE step-father of Rachel Whitear, who died of a heroin overdose, said he would campaign for more drugs education if he won a seat on Herefordshire Council.

Pictures of the body of Mick Holcroft's step-daughter shocked the nation when they were released last year. Since Rachel's death he and his wife Pauline, Rachel's mum, have been campaigning to prevent other schoolchildren suffering the same fate.

Mr Holcroft is a candidate in the local elections on Thursday, May 1, standing in Ledbury, where he said drug abuse was an issue.

He is one of 174 candidates vying for seats on the council, which is led by a minority Liberal Democrat administration backed by the Independent group.

Boundary changes and the introduction of the postal vote mean Herefordshire Council elections will be very different from the last ones in 2000.

Not only will the way the electorate vote be a first for the county but, for the first time, people with mobile phones will be able to receive the final results minutes after they are announced.

The council is offering the text service to anyone with a mobile - all they have to do is visit www.herefordshirevote. org.uk and register their number on the website.

Alternatively, anyone registering their email address on the website will have the result sent direct to their computer just moments after the count is complete.

A list of the wards in the Evening News circulation area is:

COUNTY OF HEREFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL

BRINGSTY WARD (1 Seat): Joan Anne Dauncey; William Albert Gibbard (I); David John Goodman (L); Thomas William Hunt (C)

BROMYARD WARD (2 Seats): Leslie Mervyn Henson Andrews (LD)

FROME WARD (1 Seat): Christopher Rupert Kingsley (UK); Robert Michael Manning (C); Guy Harry Morgan Woodford (G)

HOPE END WARD (2 Seats): Mark Robert Davies (G); Rees Mills (C); Roy Vincent Stockton (C); Katrina Emma Turnball (G); Terence Leonard Kimberley White (LD)

LEDBURY WARD (3 Seats): Barry Frank Ashton (LD); Mary Edna Cooper (C); Peter Edward Harling (C); Michael Holcroft (I); Jonathan Richard Mills (C); Donald William Rule (I); Jacqueline Kay Swinburne (non-aligned).