The mother of a teenager who died after taking an ecstasy pill at a popular music festival is supporting an initiative that will see drugs testing booths introduced to nightclubs.

Debbie Pay’s world was turned upside down when her 18-year-old son Christian died after taking a pill he believed to be ecstasy while at Kendal Calling in 2015.

In the months following her son’s death, Ms Pay campaigned heavily to introduce drugs testing tents at music festivals, an idea which is now being rolled out into nightclubs.

Despite being staunchly against drugs use, Ms Pay believes this is an important step forward for society.

She said: “It will save lives. I know my son should never have taken drugs but if they had been tested and he was told they were lethal I know he wouldn’t have taken them.”

Christian, from Millom, and his friends took pills they believed to be MDMA but it was mixed with PMA – a lethal drug also known as Death or Dr Death.

Adamant many people, including her son, would still be alive today if drugs testing was more of an option, Ms Pay is determined to do what she can to educate people.

She said: “Drug dealers are out to make money without a care for the people that take them. The mix in the drug Christian and his friends took was MDMA and PMA. If it was just MDMA he probably would have survived.

“Every one knows drugs can be dangerous, but if they had someone telling them exactly what was in them, this would have an impact – people would think twice.”

The booths are set to come into action in Preston nightclubs in the new year but critics fear the move could normalise drug-taking.

However, many people support the initiative and believe it could save many lives as it works to warn people of the dangers of adulterated drugs.

Ms Pay said: “I would never condone taking drugs but we are never going to stop the dealers or the teenagers and young adults from wanting to try them.

“I think the booths are a good idea even if they deter one person from taking a drug or just save one life.”