DEALING with issues such as bullying, sex and drugs are Northwich parents' key concerns, a series of parenting skills workshops has found.

The workshops, which were part of the Blueprint drug education research programme, gave parents guidance on handling these 'hard to tackle' topics.

They took place at Leftwich County High School, one of 29 schools from Derbyshire, Lancashire and Cheshire taking part in the Blueprint scheme.

Mary Crowley from the Parents Trust gave parents the following advice:

Bullying:

l Listen to your children. Ask what they think they can do about their problem. If children tell you something in confidence, do not tell anyone else without their permission. Help your child to get their point of view heard.

Sex and drugs:

l Try discussing these subjects in the car when there are no interruptions and you don't have to look each other in the eye.

l Remember that children want to talk to their parents about drugs and other sensitive subjects but you cannot necessarily impose your own values on them.

l Children are taught drug education at school, so don't be afraid to ask them what they already know.

Leftwich High School will be delivering the final five Blueprint lessons early next year.

These will give young people accurate information about drugs, challenge their perceptions of drug use among their peers and develop their skills to deal with drug situations.