SCREAMING teens gave SNAP a storming send-off at the last Sports Centre disco.

The Basingstoke centre's main hall buzzed with energy as 800 youths chatted, bounced on Space Hoppers and danced to live music from bands Quiet Storm and Awesome.

But the atmosphere last Saturday night was tinged with sadness. This was the last SNAP, certainly for the near future, and the event will only be resurrected if another venue can be found.

Costello Technology College pupils Tiffany Jackson and Natasha Toomer, both 12, said they don't want SNAP to go. "It's the only time we can see our friends and get together," said Tiffany. "It's really good fun because we get to party and meet new people."

The trailblazing anti-drug youth event, which is run by Crimestoppers and started in Basingstoke in 1996, can no longer be held at the Sports Centre because the main hall is being refurbished.

With the numbers of those attending dwindling, the team involved in SNAP decided it needs a facelift, and a new venue, if it is to survive.

Basingstoke council's health improvement manager, Susan Sheath, is one of the SNAP night organisers and has used the event as an opportunity to talk to the teenagers about health issues, such as smoking or the need to take regular exercise.

Susan said: "The fact that we're having to stop holding SNAP here is sad, because the last six years have been amazing - but as much as I support SNAP, I think it's time for something else.

"The community safety forum, which deals with drug safety and young people, has agreed that it will do something in the future. Senior officers will be meeting, if not before Christmas then early in the new year, to start to look at potential venues."

* Do you have a view on the SNAP events? Write to The Letters Editor, The Gazette, Gazette House, Pelton Road, Basingstoke, RG21 6YD or e-mail editor@basingstokegazette.co.uk