More than 3,000 people in Angus have made their voices heard and emphatically said: “We don’t want a legal highs shop in Forfar.”
Adele Speirs and fellow campaigners handed over a petition at The Cross in Forfar to Angus North and Mearns SNP MSP Nigel Don.
Mr Don was joined by Forfar councillors Glennis Middleton, Lynne Devine and Arbroath councillor Donald Morrison on Saturday morning.
The petition gathered more than 3,250 signatures following a campaign against a new shop opening in the county.
A Facebook page set up against the shop opening has also gathered more than 1,000 members showing the strength of feeling in the town.
The Forfar campaign was launched by Adele Speirs, who delivered petitions in response to a flood of requests from shops, businesses and residents.
The public campaign was prompted by news that a shop selling legal highs is believed to be about to open its doors on North Street, next to a nightclub and on a main walking route for pupils of the local school.
The former potato merchant’s office is also next to a popular lunchtime food outlet.
Adele said: “Everyone in Forfar is right behind us and they’re all saying the same thing they don’t want a legal highs shop in Forfar.
“Open a show shop or a wee clothes store, not a legal highs shop. It’s ridiculous.
“Everyone says the same and they are all behind us and supporting us and saying it’s a no-no.”
Fellow campaigner Bobbi Murray said she was concerned at the possibility of a shop opening so close to a school.
She said: “They could be really, really ill or die from it and I don’t want that.”
The shop, so far, remains closed.
As well as local opposition to the sale of new psychoactive substances, there has been support and offers of help from the public and local representatives in Arbroath and Montrose, where there has been staunch resistance to such enterprises.
Adele, a youth worker, is also organising two events one to educate the young people she works with and a bigger event to educate parents and the wider community.
Meanwhile, Montrose has one remaining store that sells new psychoactive substances and a petition has been launched to stop their sale.
Residents formed a pressure group, Montrose against Legal Highs, which has been collecting signatures.