And Lancashire MPs have today taken our battle cry to the heart of government. South Ribble's David Borrow and Lancaster MP Hilton Dawson today put forward an early day motion in Parliament.

It called upon the Attorney General to investigate whether legal action can be taken against those who write, publish, sell material or distribute information on the Internet about how to commit suicide.
The campaign is also backed by Preston MP Mark Hendrick, Fylde MP Michael Jack and Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle.
And Lancashire MEP Den Dover – who 10 years ago campaigned for Final Exit to be taken off the shelves – has taken up our cause in the European parliament.

He intends to put forward a motion to make sure needy youngsters like Sarah get the support they need – instead of an online ticket to death.

The teenager killed herself after ordering suicide manual Final Exit, costing about £7, from online booksellers Amazon. Currently they refuse to take it – and books like it – off their list.
We demand they, and other booksellers take the book off their shelves.

We also demand that Internet providers and chat room administrators take control and regulate sites to stop vulnerable people from being influenced to kill themselves.

The campaign is supported by Sarah's parents, Tony and Lynn Cherry, and Sarah's best friend, Kelly Rampling.
She said: "Everyone can be helped, but some people don't want that help, so they are finding an easy way out through a book or a website.

"Sarah sometimes said that the site helped her but I don't know whether she meant it helped her to talk... or helped her make her mind up."

David Borrow said: "I have had dealings with the Samaritans and similar organisations who are working hard to help people who are feeling depressed not to take their own life.

"A lot of younger people will go through periods of stress and depression and what they need most is support and help, not to be given the opportunity to see suicide as an easy way out.

"If there is any way in which we can protect younger people who are vulnerable, we should use seriously at changing the law to support it."

Hilton Dawson added: " I think that the Evening Post is campaigning on an exceptionally serious issue and I wish it well – not only in bringing this to the attention of policy-makers but in raising awareness with young people and parents."

Mark Hendrick said: "There are many people in this country who feel that their life is not worth living as a result of physical illness or depression.

"For Internet companies to make available web sites to people who wish to promote suicide is abominable, and for companies to sell books on the subject is outrageous.

"As a legislator my instinct is to push for laws to ban this type of activity, but given the fact that the Internet does not respect national boundaries, and that many of these sites will be offshore, it would need international agreement to deal with this phenomenon."

Fylde MP Michael Jack said: "There are some heart rending cases of people whose children have been so affected by the content of such sites and publications that they have committed suicide. If there is a way of suppressing access to this kind of material then so be it."

Lindsay Hoyle, MP for Chorley said: "One would think that a big company like Amazon would have withdrawn the sale of all suicide books. If web pages are encouraging young people to commit suicide, it needs to be controlled and I am fully supportive of the Evening Post's campaign to ensure the sale of such books are withdrawn along with those sites as soon as practically possible."

Geraldine Smith,MP Morecambe and Lunesdale, said: "I think this is an extremely worthwhile campaign and it highlights some of the dangers young people face.

"It is responsible of the Evening Post to be launching this campaign and I am delighted to add my support to it and sign the early day motion."

Just weeks before Sarah's death, a promising young medical student was found hanged after visiting a similar website.

Arwel Davies, 22, of Charlcote Crescent, Crewe, hanged himself from a hook on the back of his bedroom door following instructions he downloaded from a Dutch-based website.

Police believe messages and e-mails posted through the site could have tipped him over the edge.

Forensic investigators who searched Arwel's bedroom found a nine-page print-out describing various methods of suicide. Sketches and hand-written notes preparing for suicide were found in his wastepaper basket.

In 2002, Louise Gillies from Glasgow and Michael Gooden from East Sussex, met through an Internet chatroom.

The pair formed a suicide pact and jumped to their deaths from Beachy Head, a notorious suicide spot close to Eastbourne.

- originally published 25/11/04