THREE pupils from exclusive Cranbrook School have been suspended for supplying the deadly party drug Mephedrone.

The Courier can exclusively reveal three boarders at the £9,300-a-year school were temporarily excluded for giving the drug to friends at a weekend party in the town, outside school time.

The substance, linked to the death of Brighton teenager Gabi Price last month, is banned in some European countries.

But at £7 per gram, and sometimes mixed with animal tranquilliser Ketamine, it is becoming increasingly easy to get hold of via websites selling it as plant fertiliser.

Head teacher Angela Daly said: "This happened outside of school so in a sense is not directly our concern at all.

"But after discovering the boarders had obtained the stuff, those children were excluded and will go on a drugs support programme.

"We wrote to parents of our students at the party outlining what happened and our head of chemistry held a sixth form assembly about (the drug's) dangers."

Mephedrone, nicknamed "Meow Meow", is a legal stimulant described as "two molecular tweaks away from ecstasy".

A gram, which gives five hits, can be snorted or taken as a tablet.

But side-effects include convulsions, depression, and death.

Tony Williams, spokesman of Yalding's Kenward Trust, which offers help to drink and drug addicts, said: "We've not had anyone on the books addicted to this stuff but it's clearly around.

"People are going to experiment with all sorts of things but the bottom line is they do so without knowing what they've got in their hands.

"Dealers have no interest other than making money from you and they'll put all sorts in, telling you whatever to make a sale.

"I gather someone has died from taking this in Europe and it's illegal in a couple of countries. It's now arrived here and I guess it will be illegal soon."

The Courier was contacted by a concerned parent who said the school had not dealt with the matter properly.

Mrs Daly denied this and said: "I am horrified someone would write to you anonymously without having the courage to speak to us or have their name published.

"We clearly have dealt with this problem. Our drug policy is clear and pro-active and we followed it closely. We hope our students have learned the truth about this substance and will be able to make more informed choices in future."