A CONCERNED church is helping parents protect their children from the menace of drugs.

Woodnook Baptist Church, Accrington, has invited Christian charity Hope UK to run a Drug Awareness Day on Saturday.

Pastor David Anderson said used syringes were regularly found in the back streets of Woodnook.

He has found empty bottles of heroin substitute methadone, as well as drug-users' spoons.

Mr Anderson, a father-of-three, said: "I would not want to paint a darker picture than there is and it is probably no worse or better than anywhere else.

"But I would say the public perception in Woodnook as a community is that there is a drugs problem."

Mr Anderson, a qualified pharmacist, said a number of parents who go to the church or have children associated with its brigades had approached him, seeking good quality, basic information about drugs.

"There is a lot of ignorance about drugs and their effects and a lot of misinformation.

"Parents need sound, balanced and accurate information."

The Drug Awareness Day at the Royds Street church is being split into two sessions, from 10am to 1pm, and 2pm to 4pm.

The morning session is aimed at school staff, clergy, community leaders and youth workers.

The afternoon is an open session to help all parents and people caring for children to understand more about the problems.

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