UNSUNG heroes who pick up the pieces of lives broken by drugs and alcohol are to be honoured for their work.

But Pendle's quiet men say the honour will only spur them on to their dream of being able to help people in need for every single minute of every single day.

Pendle Alcohol Advice Centre, based in Colne, is the safety net which tries to give people back their own self respect by offering tailor-made help to overcome problems created by drugs and alcohol misuse.

The award, from the National Health Service Executive, is a commendation for their current work and for the project they say would do so much.

Organiser Mick Parker said: "When people come to us it is more than likely that they've pretty near reached the end of the line.

"Our resources are not great, but we feel that if we could manage to set up a 24-hour helpline we could stop tragedies. It is what is needed, but we have not got the money.

"Our long-term aim is to attempt to be able to have the type of assistance which can be given by a staff counsellor and up to four residents receiving help for their problems and learning to rebuild their lives.

"People have all sorts of problems, and quite often it is a vicious circle. There may be marriage troubles, health worries, anxiety, depression, law breaking, all sorts of things.

"There are no quick fixes, and everything we do takes time and patience."

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