A NURSE who pioneered new ways of treating alcoholics in East Lancashire has been honoured by his profession.

David Cooper was the first to develop home detoxification and his ground-breaking research is used as a model for nurses and health professionals treating people with alcohol problems.

Now he has been given the Outstanding Contribution award by the Nursing Council on Alcohol (NCA). His work was chosen by the panel of judges as it paved the way for the setting up of specialist teams across the UK to help people with alcohol addiction. Mr Cooper, who was born in Great Harwood and now lives in Devon, received the award at a ceremony in Manchester.

He said: "Initially I felt embarrassed. It was made clear the award was given through peer nomination, then a panel of judges had to unanimously agree.

"It's the first time I have been stuck for words. To come back to the North West, where my work in the alcohol field really took off in Blackburn, and to receive an award sponsored by my father, at this stage in my life, is a considerable and overwhelming honour."

Mr Cooper, 51, qualified in 1981 and developed an interest in alcohol use, education and training while working as a staff nurse on a psychiatric ward.

In 1983, he became a full-time community psychiatric nurse and was given the task of researching the need for a community alcohol service for Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Authority. This led to his pioneering of home detoxification for drinkers and developing new training techniques for staff. He said: "Back then, there were no such thing as community alcohol teams.

"If you had a drink problem and if you were lucky, you may have got a place in somewhere totally unsuitable like a psychiatric ward for four or five weeks. After that you were sent home with little support."

The ideas developed in Blackburn were the foundation for his 1994 book, Alcohol Home Detoxification and Assessment, which is considered a seminal work in improving alcohol services. NCA chairman, Prof Hazel Watson, said: "David has been, and remains, a leading figure and thinker in the alcohol field, recognised nationally and internationally for his contribution."

By coincidence, this year's award was sponsored by the estate of Mr Cooper's late father, Charles, who died last November. David's mother Joyce, of Waltham Close, Baxenden, said: "I decided to sponsor this award following the death of my husband last year.

"Little did any of us realise David would be nominated and then selected by the judging panel to be the recipient of this award. My husband was very proud of David's work and I am sure he would be delighted."