Readers have telephoned the Oxford Mail to name the drug dealer who supplied James Low with his last fix.

The newspaper has received calls naming dealers after the newsdesk phone number was published in yesterday's paper.

The information has now been passed to police. Det Sgt Angus Palmer, of Thames Valley Police, said the names phoned in by readers would be passed to officers conducting the investigation. Mr Low, 20, of Ladder Hill, Wheatley, was found dead at his parents' home last Friday. Police have vowed to arrest the dealer who supplied the drug that killed him.

Two years ago, an action group was set up to combat the drugs problem in Wheatley after the village was dubbed a haven for heroin.

Fifteen of the village's 30 registered addicts began rehabilitation but Mr Low's death has shown that heroin is still a problem. Today, Clive Hallett, headteacher of Wheatley Primary School, in Littleworth Road, said everyone in the village was devastated by news of the death of former pupil James.

He said: "The tragedy is that James had managed to come off heroin but, unfortunately, then returned to it, with fatal consequences. His younger brother, Sean, and all his mates were in one of the local pubs the other night crying their eyes out.

"This has shocked and horrified teenagers in the local community - but will it stop them from taking drugs in the future? "It is not possible to watch youngsters all the time but parents, who become suspicious about their children, must grasp the nettle by quizzing them constantly about their behaviour and whereabouts."

Recently, Mr Hallett saw several young men "shooting up" on the Church Road recreation ground. Discarded syringes are sometimes found there.

Mr Hallett, who is in charge of 400 boys and girls aged five to 11, makes sure that they are given early warnings about the dangers of drugs. "We try to encourage our pupils to get involved in sporting activities and make use of their time properly by playing tennis or going sailing. It is when kids are wandering aimlessly round the village that they are easy prey for the dealers."

Thames Valley Police promise to double the number of officers patrolling Wheatley by converting an old stable block in the Merry Bells village hall courtyard, off Church Road. From next February, this will boost the number of police officers to six, with Sgt Mo Haynes in charge.

Sgt Haynes said: "Drugs are a problem everywhere, not just in Wheatley, and while getting extra officers is not directly linked to tackling drugs, they will obviously help."

Story date: Thursday 14 October

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.