A national film competition is being launched by campaigners who are raising awareness of the potentially devastating effects of club drugs and legal highs.

The Why Not Find Out campaign by the newly-launched Angelus Foundation will see young people invited to make films about the best ways of getting naturally high, such as sports and music.

Maryon Stewart, founded the Angelus Foundation after her medical student daughter Hester died aged 21 in 2009 in Patcham, Brighton after taking the then legal GBL.

She said a substance being legal does not mean it is safe.

Ms Stewart, from Brighton, said: "Our children don't need to die or be harmed for life by these toxic chemicals falsely disguised as legal highs.

"It's natural for young people to want to have fun but it's important that they stay safe and fully understand just because a substance is legal it doesn't mean it's safe."

Almost one third of young people search for ways of getting legally high, according to a survey commissioned by the Angelus Foundation.

But two thirds of the 16 to 24-year-olds surveyed admitted not being well-informed about the risks linked with taking such substances.

Side effects of legal highs can include psychosis, depression, panic attacks, seizures, coma, loss of use of the bladder and also death, campaigners said.

Tickets for the launch of the film contest can be obtained by calling the box office on 0207 328 1000 or by visiting www.tricycle.co.uk