A MOTHER whose teenage daughter died after taking Ecstasy has warned other parents to be on their guard against their children taking drugs. Breaking her silence for the first time, grieving mum Heather Jones has told parents: "It could happen to you."

AS HEATHER Jones' family and friends gathered to celebrate her 42nd birthday on March 8 this year she said a reluctant goodbye to her 18-year-old daughter Wendy Papas.

Wendy was off for a night on the town with her boyfriend but had arranged to go shopping with her four brothers and sisters to get a present for her mum the next day.

It was a trip that would never happen.

Instead, police knocked on the door at 2.45am to deliver the tragic news that Wendy wasn't coming home ever again.

She had been found dead in a second-floor room of Southampton's Hotel Ibis and officers had found Ecstasy tablets nearby. Later analysis of her blood revealed she had indeed taken Ecstasy and it had killed her.

The news came like a bolt from the blue to her family.

Most disturbing of all was that no-one, no-one at all, had any idea Wendy was experimenting with drugs.

She had even taken part in the Global Rock Challenge, an anti-drugs arts event for children, while a pupil at Redbridge Community School in Southampton.

The family's message will ring alarm bells with many parents who also believe their child is "the last person who would try drugs".

The revelation has provoked a lot of soul-searching at the home in Kendal Avenue, Millbrook, that Wendy shared with mum Heather, stepdad Chris Jones, elder brother David, 20, little sister Melissa, nine, and young twins Luke and Rebecca, seven.

The young ones, who believe Wendy went to sleep and simply didn't wake up, are struggling to cope with the void her death has left in their lives. The youngest have only just stopped sleeping in her bed because "they didn't want to leave her".

"What these drugs have done is changed their lives, blitzed them. Wendy lost her life but they are still trying to get over it themselves," says Heather angrily.

But anger isn't the dominant feeling. It is pure incomprehension which comes across most, as their pained faces tell of a girl who was "never unhappy".

Heather said: "Everybody seemed to like her. She was friendly and full of life and took everything in her stride. She was good with her brothers and sisters, always taking them out and spoiling them. She seemed happy."

More than 200 mourners turned out for her funeral, underlining how many people had been touched by the fun-loving teenager.

So why then was she taking Ecstasy in the clubs of Southampton?

Her parents are at a loss to explain it.

Father Nick Papas, 41, who currently lives in Cornwall, told the Daily Echo: "I spoke to her about drugs not so long ago and she was totally against them. I had no idea."

Stepdad Chris agrees.

"We had no idea she had used drugs. That was the hardest part, not being able to realise what was in front of our faces.We didn't have a clue."

Heather said: "There are some people in society where you can see they are into drugs. Wendy didn't have that look, there was no indication, no writing on the wall."

But she was using drugs, and now her name is the latest on a tragic list of up to 50 young people who have lost their lives because of Ecstasy.

Best known was Leah Betts of Essex, who died in November 1995 after taking Ecstasy to celebrate her birthday. Her grieving parents launched a massive anti-drugs campaign, touring schools and other young people's venues to get the "drugs kill" message across. Their campaign carried the caption: "Sorted. Just One Ecstasy Tablet Killed Leah Betts."

Like Leah's parents, Wendy's family want her sobering story to serve as an example to others in the hope that the tragic list gets no longer.

"I want to put all this in a glass bowl so the people can see what happens, so the pushers who do this will stop," says Chris.

He has no time for the people dealing death on Southampton's streets.

"They feed on the vulnerable as far as I can see. Their attitude is we have got bait on a hook and we are pulling it in. The more drugs they sell the more money they make. That's the bottom line, but it destroys lives," he said.

Heather implored youngsters not to try drugs.

"I would say to young people don't dabble, just don't go there. If you get offered drugs, just say no. Just think of the consequences, what we have gone through with the children. You might get high and enjoy it, but it could destroy you and what's that going to do to your family and friends?"

Chris has the final word.

"There has to be an awareness of this new culture in our society. Parents have to look harder. If you don't look harder it could happen to you.

"You know people say E stands for Ecstasy, but not for us. For us it stands for emotional hell. We just hope the message gets through."

A 26-year-old Southampton man was arrested shortly after Wendy's death and remains on police bail until May, pending further inquiries by officers from Shirley CID.

Detectives urged anyone with information about drug supply in the Southampton area to contact Hampshire police on 0845 045 4545, or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.