PEOPLE arrested for alcohol-related offences in the Burnley area now have the chance to take immediate steps to change the lifestyle which landed them in trouble.

The introduction of the scheme follows on from the success of a similar referral scheme for drug users who have been arrested.

Problem drinkers are now offered help at the Burnley Community Alcohol Service based in Bull Street.

Seventy prisoners have had their drinking problems assessed, leading towards counselling or even residential services help.

The programme is run by the Alcohol Drug Services of Manchester which runs similar schemes in Preston and on the Fylde Coast.

The service is funded by by the Government Single Regeneration Budget and is run by Nigel Pearson, a primary health care worker at Wigan who has moved to Burnley.

He spends up to 20 hours a week in the custody suites at Burnley and Colne police stations and says police are increasing seeing the value of the scheme.

Mr Pearson said offenders he saw ranged from those arrested for being drunk and disorderly to violence and drink-driving.

His busiest times are Saturday and Monday mornings seeing weekend drinkers.

He said they were offered the opportunity of immediate assessment and given information about treatment options open to them.

Burnley Community Alcohol Service area manager Diane Ogden commented: "The scheme is well supported by police and is proving very successful."

A weekly clinic was held at the Bull Street centre but closed following the departure of Dr Ian Blake to a new post.

It has been replaced by a clinic run by psychiatric nurse Jeanette O'Brien who recently joined the Community Alcohol Service scheme.

She arranges community detoxification where appropriate and is also involved in educational work with local GPs.