A NEW centre for people with drug and alcohol problems is being planned for Hyndburn.

An audit by the Lancashire Drugs Action Team, made up of police, council and health officials, revealed that there was shortage of places people could turn to for help and support.

The team is now working with the community safety team and Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Primary Care Trust on plans for a new treatment centre and needle exchange in Accrington.

Consultants have been hired to look for a suitable location and funding is being sought to get the project off the ground.

Insp Steve Steddings, from the Lancashire Drugs Action Team, said the shortage of services meant that people were having to travel outside the borough to get help.

He said: "It was clear that Hyndburn needs a facility of some kind and it is best to provide it as close as possible to the people who need it. Often people misusing drugs and alcohol haven't got their lives in order and the not prepared or motivated to travel to get treatment."

Cathy Gardener, commissioning manager for the PCT with responsibility for substance misuse services, said the new centre would take 12 months to set up, subject to planning permission and any refurbishments that might be needed to the building chosen.

She said: "The aim will be to provide more needle exchange services in the interim until we have a central base in Accrington. This will offer an improved needle exchange service for those in need and protect the public from the risk of discarded needles."

The idea has also won the support of Labour councillor Jean Battle.

She said: "We don't have a needle exchange in Hyndburn anymore and it is causing problems, not just for council workers who have clear up discarded needles, but also for young people playing out on the streets.

"It will need the support of the police, the borough council and the county council.

"There is also a need for drug education and a service that will help addicts come off drugs and this building will offer all of that.

"It is a problem in Hyndburn and it something we need to look at very seriously."