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Campaigners had hoped a Home Office report into the issue would help speed up the introduction of new measures intended to clamp down on the sale of dangerous but legal substances such as synthetic cannabis on the High Street.

But last week the Home Office minister Norman Baker suggested that Number 10 was sitting on the reports, which had been ready to publish as far back as July.

Mrs Stewart said the delay was deeply frustrating as every day that was lost meant young people across the country are being exposed to the dangers posed by legal highs.

In her letter to the Prime Minister she describes how just this week she was contacted by a grieving mother whose only son had taken his own life having developed mental health issues after taking synthetic cannabis and urges him to release the report as soon as possible.

She tells Mr Cameron: "I cannot guess the reasons for such an important set of recommendations to be blocked but I can tell you that the consequences are months of wasted time while young people continue to be exposed to these dangerous substances."

She adds: "My plea to you is to instruct those responsible within Number 10 to proceed with the publication so we can get on with preventing further avoidable losses and tragic events happening to young people … it is simply unacceptable that these substances can be bought by anyone over 18 in the High Street."

Mrs Stewart ends the letter: "I implore you to overcome whatever the political issues surrounding the publication of this vital report so we can get on with exposing the myths around these legal highs and keep our young people safe."

Explaining why she had decided to make a direct appeal to Mr Cameron, Mrs Stewart said: "Having spoken to the Prime Minister myself about the issue, I know he understands the urgency of the situation and the reality of the threat to young people from legal highs.

"But somehow this report has been allowed to get tangled up in the politics of Government. Young people are being harmed every week and some are dying. There can be no justification for delaying even for one more day."