AN EAST Lancashire MP has welcomed the Prime Minister’s pledge to crack-down on ‘legal high’ drug Black Mamba.

Graham Jones, Hyndburn and Haslingden MP, has been calling for action since a teenager from Rishton was taken gravely ill after smoking the substance at a house party in Accrington in December.

Mr Jones said he was pleased that concerns over the substance, which is being sold in East Lancashire shops, was brought to David Cameron’s attention during Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday.

Tory MP for Warwickshire, Nadhim Zahawi, told Mr Cameron of the “life-threatening effects” it had on a 13-year-old child from Stratford-upon-Avon who had taken it.

He said: “I am informed Black Mamba is the latest legal high being sold on our streets.

“Now we have regulations that allow us to act swiftly to ban potentially legal highs, will you act on this substance immediately?”

Mr Cameron said: “We are determined to stamp out these so-called legal highs.

“The Home Office is aware of this particular drug.

“We now have this drugs early warning system that brings these things to attention.”

The PM said a decision was needed over Black Mamba, adding: “I will make sure that happens.”

Mr Jones said: “I’ve had a couple of constituents who have told me about the terrible consequences of taking Black Mamba. This is being repeated up and down the country.

“There needs to be publicity about it — people need to know that although it hasn’t been outlawed, that doesn’t mean it’s safe to take.

“I’m glad that the Prime Minister is aware of it, but something needs to be done sooner, rather than later. He has to act.”