The Evening Chronicle in Newcastle has launched a major drug awareness campaign, following the death of a 21-year-old footballer from a heroin overdose.

Working with the man's family, the paper took the decision to publish graphic police photographs of the young sports fan, as he lay dead on the floor.

Now the front page is being made into a poster, which will be sent to relevant authorities for display as part of the paper's War on Drugs.

The hard-hitting awareness-raising campaign will help put drug users in touch with people who can help them break the habit, and give readers the chance to shop dealers to the police.

Editor Paul Robertson said: "This was a particularly poignant story about the dangers of drugs.

"Working with the family and the police, we took the decision to use the picture which was harrowing, but really did bring home the dangers of dabbling with heroin."