Ref. 72772-25 Grandparents Gloria and Larry Perring with Gary's aunt Julie Southgate (middle). Inset Gary PerringTHE family of young Gary Perring are clinging to any crumb of comfort they can in a bid to come to terms with the 13-year-old's untimely death.

The revelation that Gary had first tried inhaling aerosol six months before his death came as a hammer blow.

However, the driving force of their initial grief, which led them to start up a memorial poster campaign, had faded and with the final emotional hurdle of the inquest left to clear, they were ready to spend some time mourning him quietly.

Instead, the evidence given to the hearing by a boy who admitted inhaling aerosol gases with Gary in July last year, has left them reeling.

"We had no idea," said his grandmother Gloria, who lives on the edge of Swindon at Washpool.

"We were utterly shocked."

"If he had known that he could have died it would have petrified him," said Gloria.

Now, as the new information sinks in, their determination to save other children from a similar fate has hardened.

Apart from winning support from their local MP, James Gray, to fight for larger warnings on aerosol cans, their campaign has received help from the country's two major substance abuse charities, Solve-It and Re-solv.

Swindon Drugs and Alcohol Action Team has made contact and social services in Swindon and Wiltshire are looking into ways of improving procedures.

The family also has the comfort of knowing that they have already saved the lives of some children who vowed to the Perrings that they would never sniff aerosol gas again.

"When the Adver first ran the story I saw kids picking it up and reading it after school and they were shocked. They hadn't realised what had happened to him," said Gary's aunt Julie Southgate.

The family described Gary as the life and soul of the family and a loveable rogue. But now their hopes for his future have been replaced by a hope that they can do something to prevent more senseless deaths.

"Something good has to come out of this," said his grandfather Larry.

Help here

For advice and help on solvent abuse contact: Solve-It on 01536 420604 or at www.solveitonline.co.uk

Re-Solv on 0808 800 2345 or at www.re-solv.org.uk

Tina Clarke