EAST Lancashire's partygoers are being warned of the dangers of mixing drugs and alcohol when seeing in the New Year.

The North West Safer Nightlife Group found in a survey that clubbers are increasingly combining substances either to heighten or to counteract their effects.

Mark Ryan, of the group, said: "Taking any drug is a health risk.

"When you mix more than one type of drug and drink alcohol you are increasing the risks and making the effects more unpredictable."

In the North West 36 per cent of 16 to 21-year-olds say they take drugs -- which is six per cent higher than the UK average.

'FRANK', the government's drug misuse campaign, also advises youngsters planning to party on New Year's Eve to look after their friends, to tell friends if they have taken drugs and plan journeys from and to home using only licensed cab firms.