DRINKERS in Burnley will have a chance to help fight crime while downing their pints after police announced plans to produce beer mats as part of a crackdown on drug dealers.

The mats are being distributed to local licensed premises with the words "drug dealers -- if you spot them shop them".

The move is part of a campaign to raise awareness of the freephone Burnley Drugsline.

Around 30,000 beer mats have been produced by local Police and Burnley's Community Safety Partnership which funded the initiative through the Partnership's Drugs Action Group budget which is financed by the Communities Against Drugs fund.

According to Detective Inspector Sam Birtwell from Burnley Police, the objective is not to tackle drugs within pubs which police don't regard as a particular problem, but to raise awareness of the drugsline number so that if people do know of drug dealers or someone committing crime to fund a habit, they can do something about it.

Det Insp Birtwell said: "Burnley Drugsline was launched in November 2002 as a direct result of the Burnley Task Force Report compiled in the wake of the 2001 summer disturbances which highlighted resident's concerns about drugs and called for a dedicated drugsline.

"Unlike the existing Crimestoppers number, Burnley Drugsline is totally dedicated to drug-related crime in Burnley, allowing people to report crime free and anonymously -- and in several different languages.

"The beer mats are just one of a range of tactics we are using to help promote the drugsline and to encourage people to call. Along with posters, flyers and advertisements, I hope they will start to make people think about the role they can play in helping us to drive down drug related crime."

Ian Potter from the Burnley Community Safety Partnership said: "Drug dealers ruin lives, not only by supplying illegal substances to others but also by committing crime to fund their own habits. I would urge anyone with information about drug-related activity to give the Drugsline a call and in doing so, play their part in helping to make their local community a little safer." Burnley Drugsline number is 0800 555 885.