A BLANKET ban on legal highs is being developed by the government.
Barnsley Central MP Dan Jarvis has campaigned for the measures to be brought into place over the last few months.
He has been working with local residents, the council, the police, councillors and Trading Standards to pressurise local shops to either close down or stop selling the substances.
Home Office minister Lynne Featherstone said: "Work has begun to develop proposals for a blanket ban on the sale of new psychoactive substances.
"We will set out further detail on these proposals in due course."
The substances - which mimic the effect of illegal drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy - are legally available to children to buy.
Dan said: "I welcome the government's decision to develop a blanket ban. This is a potential victory for all those who have campaigning alongside me to rid our communities of these dangerous substances.
"In the last few weeks I have contacted residents who live near the new legal highs shop on Sheffield Road. Many have told me they're very concerned about the effect the shop has had on anti-social behaviour.
"They say they have noticed a definite increase in people loitering and often collapsing near the shop.
"Shops who irresponsibly sell these substances should note that their days are numbered. I will continue to keep up the pressure to ensure that the government keeps to its promise to outlaw these dangerous drugs."
