FORTY callers in two weeks have joined our campaign to tackle the flow of drugs onto the streets of East Lancashire.

The calls came after we changed our Drive Out Drugs hotline number to help deal with the number of people wanting to give police information about dealers and drug abuse in their area.

And dozens of callers, including parents concerned about their children, have also contacted our drugs helpline for information and advice on how to beat the evil of drug addiction.

In the last two weeks, 40 people from the Blackburn, Darwen, Rossendale, Burnley, Ribble Valley and Pendle areas have rung the freephone 0800 555111 number with information about drugs.

That compares with an average of around 44 drug-related calls a month for the whole county in the three months before the Drive Out Drugs campaign was launched.

DC Charlie Sykes, who has been overseeing the hotline, said: "The campaign has certainly had an impact, without a shadow of a doubt.

"Some of the callers have been a little vague but other callers have given us what appears to be good quality, detailed information.

"But callers can rest assured that we will act on everything they tell us where at all possible."

Calls to the hotline number can be made anonymously and in confidence and callers have been assured they will not be forced to give evidence in any subsequent court case.

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