THE brother of teenager Kate Walsh who died following a suspected drugs overdose said yesterday his family is determined to get answers about why there was no official help for them in the months before her death.

Damien, 18, spoke lovingly of his best memories of his sister and the difficulty of living without her. "It is is the ordinary family things like Christmas and holidays and just knowing when I get up in the morning she won't be there," he said.

He said his sister had always been totally anti smoking and drugs and it was not until she came under the influence of an older boyfriend that she started to change.

Her parents Debbie and Anthony from Highworth tried to get help from both the police and social services but say they were told that as Kate was 16 there was nothing they could do.

Damien is trying to get on with his life and has had huge support from friends but knows his parents will not be satisfied until a full review is held.

Today a multi-agency meeting will decide whether a major inquiry is needed into Kate's death.

Representatives from the police, Social Services, health, education and probation services will discuss whether a Serious Case Review is needed.

The review would scrutinise what each agency knew about Kate's drug problems, and whether anything could have been done to save her.

Her parents, Debbie and Anthony Walsh, of Eastview Terrace, Highworth, are adamant that their daughter's death on January 3 could have been prevented.

They are now demanding that their voices are not ignored if a major inquiry is held. The pair said their input is vital if lessons are to be learned from their daughter's death. They said they were not told about the meeting, and are concerned that they could be sidelined if an inquiry is to be held.

In a statement Mr and Mrs Walsh said: "We want to know whether we will be called to verify the statements made by any of the agencies, and what objectives can be achieved without our presence."

Supt Kevin Maidment, head of community safety and criminal justice at Wiltshire police, gave a guarantee that the couple would play a role.

He said: "This initial meeting is restricted to the relevant agencies, therefore Mr and Mrs Walsh will not be able to attend.

"I would stress that this meeting is not part of the investigation being conducted on behalf of the coroner, nor is it, at this stage, an in-depth analysis of the facts.

"If the decision is made to hold a

Serious Case Review, then they will be notified and offered the opportunity to participate."

The family are starting to make plans for Kate's funeral but still do not know when it will be able to go ahead as toxicology tests are still being

carried out.

Flowers have been left at the the run-down squat in Manchester Road where the 16-year-old died. A poignant note accompanies the flowers, which reads: "The angels are blessed by taking you, you will never be forgotten," and is simply signed ES.

Kate was just 14 when she met her boyfriend, who was then 25. She kept the relationship secret until March last year, when she left home to be with him. In August, she told the family about her heroin problem. For Damien, it confirmed his worst fears.

"I thought she might have been taking something when she pulled out of her GCSE exams," he said. Damien believes his sister was let down. He said: "There is not enough support for youngsters in Kate's position."

Anyone who saw Kate between December 22 and January 3 should call Swindon police on (01793) 528111.