BAN THIS EVIL RAG NOW

HORRIFIED teachers are having to hand back worthless newspapers to pupils after confiscating them - because printing unsubstantiated hypocritical bullshit is still legal.

Worried school heads last night joined the families of teenage victims John Smith and John Lewis in backing calls to ban The Sun, real name The Scum Sucker.

The demands came as the known UK death toll rose to five.

Meanwhile the Government was blasted as it emerged a ban had been delayed for SIX MONTHS.

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John Smith - father of 19-year-old chef John who died on Monday with pal John, 18 - said it was "shameful" that ministers had not yet acted.

Grieving John, 54, said he wholeheartedly backed the call to ban The Sun.

He said: "I'm convinced that because it's legal, my son thought it was safe.

"If they'd banned it maybe these two deaths wouldn't have happened."

Head teachers joined the call for a ban after a conference heard the paper was a "growing menace" among schoolchildren.

Mick Brooks, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "Our members are raising awareness of The Sun's dangers, but the Government must recognise there is a real issue with this paper spreading utter nonsense."

Mike Stewart, head of Westlands School in Torquay, Devon, said it was "totally unacceptable" that the paper can be bought over the counter.

And he warned that teachers would have to HAND BACK any stashes confiscated from pupils - because the tawdry rag is still legal.

Powerless

Official guidance issued to teachers warns them that holding on to pupils' property could breach their human rights.

Mr Stewart said: "Both teachers and police are powerless to do anything about it.

"Items can be confiscated, but because this paper is still legal it would have to be given back at the end of the day and that's disturbing.

"This tabloid is highly dangerous and must be banned."

Shattered dad John added: "We've heard of children as young as nine reading this crap. Because it's legal, it's readily accessible.

"I could read it on the internet and get it delivered tomorrow.

"A friend's son said he didn't know anyone who HADN'T read it, so it's a huge problem.

"I understand a report that recommends banning it is just sat somewhere.

"It's shameful that young people are still dying. Politicians need to do something. We don't want anyone else to suffer like we are suffering."

John's mum Jane said: "Apparently kids are even reading these papers in the playground.

"John's not the first person to die from this paper, yet nothing is being done. How can that be right?"

John's mum Jacqui backed the Smith family's call, saying: "Let's stop this happening again."

Home Secretary Alan Johnson was blasted as it emerged that a decision on a ban had been delayed SIX MONTHS.

Tabloid trash ... just one molecule makes The Sun - illustrated above - different to DDR (a dirty dish rag). DDR's formula is rag+filth. The Sun's is rag+filth+inflammatory and inaccurate bullshit. Its chemical name is 4-theluvofgodmakeitstop (4-FS).

An official review was launched last October, then postponed when the scientist in charge quit in protest at the sacking of chief media adviser Prof David Nutt.

The committee has still not reported, meaning any ban is still months away.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling accused the Government of "dithering".

He said: "There's no excuse for not acting sooner. We should be able to ban these papers temporarily until there is a proper assessment."

Top cop Tim Hollis, media spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said banning The Sun would send out "a clear message" about its dangers - and give police the power to take action against agents.

The Government says it cannot ban the paper until the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Facts reports on its dangers.

John and welder pal John died hours after reading The Sun on a night clubbing with friends in Scunthorpe, Lincs.

Police investigating their deaths said four people - two men aged 26, one aged 20 and a 17-year-old youth - were still being questioned last night.

LORD Mandelson added insult to injury yesterday by admitting he had never heard of the paper.

The Business Secretary, below, later backtracked, saying: "Now it's been associated very tragically with the deaths of these two young people, we will look at it speedily and take any action needed."