Pubdate: Tue, 15 Mar 2005 Source: Press, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2005 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd. Contact: http://www.press.co.nz/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349 Author: Jarrod Booker Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) ANGRY RESIDENTS SAY NO TO HORNBY NOS STORE Concerned Hornby residents have hit the pavements to express their anger at a "nos bar" selling legal highs to their neighbourhood's youth. About 20 people bearing banners protested outside the Weirdos Funk Store yesterday in an effort to get the shop closed down. They plan to keep the pressure on with further action. The Weirdos Funk Store sells nitrous oxide (nos), which when inhaled gives users a brief dizzying high, and party pills popular among teenagers. "What the answer is, I don't know. But we don't want (the store) here," said Helen, a concerned grandmother living in the area. "It's in the vicinity of all the schools and young children are seeing people sucking on these (nitrous oxide filled) balloons and wondering what it is." Hornby High School principal Andy Kai Fong has already come out in opposition to the store, while local MP Jim Anderton met with residents on the issue last week. Helen, who did not want her surname published, said she first became worried when her 14-year-old granddaughter was served at the store. She feared what teenagers congregating at the store and "getting off their faces" might do to themselves and others. Intoxicated teenagers were spilling onto busy Main South Road. "If some poor driver hits someone they are going to have that left on their conscience," Helen said. She was also worried residents in the area could soon become targets as teenagers needed money to buy the legal highs. "It's not just Hornby kids. It's kids coming in from out of town as well. Hopefully keeping the pressure on it makes people aware." Management of the Weirdos Funk Store did not want to comment when approached by The Press yesterday. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom