A UNIQUE community service has secured its future after scooping £90,000 from the National Lottery Charity Board.

SARG (Solvent Abuse Resource Group) based on Penny Street, Blackburn, is one of the few specialist solvent misuse services in the country and were pinning their hopes for survival on a national lottery award after a council grant ran out in March.

Co-ordinator Keith Owen, said: "We were wondering how we were going to survive but thanks to the award we can now look forward with confidence to a challenging and exciting future."

SARG was established in 1989 and provides a range of services aimed at giving confidential help and guidance to people who abuse solvent across the county.

Much of the group's work involves counselling young people aged between13 to 21.

The team of two full-time and one part-time workers, offer confidential help, guidance and support five days a week.

"Solvent abuse is still as prevalent today as it was in the punk era," added Mr Owen. "It is often ignored and we are trying to keep the problem in the limelight.

"We can now afford to continue spreading the message at community centres and youth clubs and educate children and parents how damaging solvent abuse can be."

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