A Shropshire businessman has spoken of his shock after his brother died from taking the mephedrone drug.

Roger Smith, 51, who owns Stirling Business Solutions in Bridgnorth, said his family were in shock after hearing his brother John, 46, died after taking the legal drug, which is sold online as plant food. And he today warned others against taking the drug – also known as miaow miaow.

Mr Smith described his brother, who worked in Marks & Spencer in Sussex and died on February 7, as a fun loving and outgoing man.

He said: “He enjoyed life and was a fun loving chap. He didn’t normally drink so I don’t think he would have taken anything illegal. We as a family didn’t know he was taking the drug, he obviously had a social life we were not aware of.

“It has been a total shock to the family. It has come out of the blue and we still can’t believe it.

“We were shocked that he died so young, but even more so to find out how he died.

“He was not the kind of person to do this, I have never known him to be involved in this kind of thing before.

“If anything at all good can come from John’s death, I hope it can be a warning to anyone thinking of trying it – just don’t. It could kill you.

“Sadly, people will try it as long as it’s legal, whatever the risk. The Government needs to ban it, urgently.”

Mr Smith collapsed at a party in Hove, East Sussex. Friends and paramedics tried to revive him but he died from a cardiac arrest before he could be taken to hospital.

Mr Smith, who was single, had recently begun working part-time on the checkout at Marks & Spencer in Chichester. Prior to that, he was a salesman for Bang & Olufsen.

Toxicology tests have confirmed Mr Smith died after taking the drug, a spokeswoman for Sussex Police said today.

An inquest will take place on May 27.

By Jason Lavan