HOME Secretary David Blunkett has accepted an invitation to visit North Yorkshire to check police efforts to fight the menace of drugs.

Mr Blunkett or one of his junior ministers will also visit RAF Fylingdales or Menwith Hill early warning base to see how they are being protected against terrorist attacks or disruption by protesters.

After being invited to the county by Scarborough and Whitby MP Lawrie Quinn, Mr Blunkett said the "spring sunshine" would do his team good.

The offer was extended by Mr Quinn as he praised police efforts to right drugs in more remote parts of the county.

Speaking in the Commons, he told Mr Blunkett: "Market towns and rural areas in my part of North Yorkshire suffer from the scourge of drugs activity. The North Yorkshire police force has done an excellent job in building relationships with communities to fight that evil.

"Would the Home Secretary, or one of his colleagues, be prepared to visit North Yorkshire soon to hear about the excellent initiatives in the fight against drugs in rural areas and to support the sterling efforts of the North Yorkshire police force to protect the many sensitive military bases in the county?"

Mr Blunkett replied he had visited the county 15 months ago - when he launched the Diary of a Police Officer to cut red tape - but would be happy to do so again.

He added: "When we were there, we acknowledged the major challenges in dealing with drug taking."

Updated: 10:35 Wednesday, March 26, 2003