More young people will die of drug overdoses, a campaigner has warned at the start of music festival season.

Ray Lakeman, whose sons Jacques and Torin died together of MDMA overdoses in 2014, spoke out after a teenager died in Rochdale after using ecstasy.

Mutiny Festival in Portsmouth was cancelled last weekend after the death of two young people believed to have taken high-strength ecstasy pills.

Mr Lakeman appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Tuesday with Elizabeth Burton-Phillips, who also lost a child to an illegal drug overdose. They are both campaigning for safer drug regulation and debated whether or not drugs should be legalised in the UK. Since his sons’ deaths, Mr Lakeman, from Port St Mary, has campaigned vigorously for decriminalisation of drugs, saying the current policy doesn’t work.

In November he handed over a petition calling for decriminalisation of drugs to Downing Street with other parents involved in the charity Anyone’s Child: Families for Safer Drug Control.Prompted by the Rochdale death, on Facebook Mr Lakeman wrote: ’A dealer, Kurt Lailan, from Portsmouth was gaoled for 16 years in December.

’Jacques and Torin’s names featured prominently in the local news at his trial in Portsmouth. Kids don’t listen, dealers don’t care, young people continue to die.

’Even after these tragic deaths, the only thing that will change are the lives of the families affected.

’I just read another teenager died after using ecstasy in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

’Three of his friends were hospitalised. Jacques’ and Torin’s deaths were all over the North West when their bodies were found and the inquest held. I have done interviews with the North West press and TV.

’Kids don’t listen, dealers don’t care, young people continue to die. Every time another young person dies I feel their grief, anguish, pain and incomprehension.

’So should those in power. The government insists its policies are working and drug usage amongst the young is dropping.

’You won’t convince me, and as they attempt to come to terms with what has happened to their loved ones, I doubt you will convince the recently bereaved.

’Unless we accept that people will continue to use drugs despite the deaths and risks reported and do everything in our power to concentrate on harm- reduction, not prohibition which is failing massively, the deaths will mount.

’Expect many similar stories this summer as the festival season develops and young people celebrate the end of term and exams.’

During the programme, Good Morning Britain conducted an online poll of support for decriminalisation of drugs; 30% were in favour.

Mr Lakeman said: ’A third want drugs legalised. That’s not a small number and they don’t know as much as me about this.

’If people are afraid it will open the flood gates, the flood gates are already open. 40% of students used drugs last year. They do not apply logic or common sense, young people can be reckless, they think they are going to live for ever. And it’s worse than it was and it’s all linked to gang culture and rising knife crime.

’Six months ago the guy who supplied the drugs that killed Jacques and Torin was convicted in Portsmouth, that’s the same place where those young people died.

’People still use drugs, drug dealers still deal it.

’The numbers are going to rise, it will be absolutely horrific. Legalising drugs cannot be worse than what’s happening. Unfortunately this won’t be the last time. I don’t like doing this. It’s very draining and emotional.

’I will keep banging on about it. I will not stop.’