A two-pronged bid to tackle evil drug pushers who peddle their killer wares to youngsters will go before Parliament in the coming session, it was revealed yesterday.

A new law to throw drug dealing no-go zones around schools, sports clubs, youth centres and other places where youngsters gather will be introduced.

And anyone caught with drugs -- either for personal use or supply -- can expect to face double the sentence the offences would normally attract.

The plan is a joint scheme of Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness and Education Minister Jerome Dill.

Mr. Edness said yesterday: "The object is to try and give legal protection against people who prey on children and entice them to use drugs.

"And the sentences handed out will be quite severe -- more than severe. If a person is trying to push drugs onto children, then they should pay a very heavy penalty.'' Mr. Edness said the legislation was still in the planning stage and firm details had yet to be hammered out.

But he added it was hoped to finish the fine print within the current Parliamentary session, which starts today.

Mr. Edness said: "This is an additional tool in the fight against drug pushers and those who abuse drugs. I think it's an excellent initiative and I'm sure it will commend itself to the people of Bermuda.

"The Police support it -- and there will be extra patrols with a special brief. The Commissioner has already said he will be doing that anyway.

"We need to protect our children in any and every way we can and this is one way, a good way, of doing that.'' But Mr. Edness warned any anti-drugs drive was doomed to failure unless there was support in the home.

He said: "The strongest influence in a child's life comes from the parents and we would hope parents would support this kind of initiative by making children aware of the dangers of drugs and teach them to avoid them.''