Drug dealers making as much as £25,000 profit per week are being held up as role models among young members of the Asian community.

The vast profits are being spent on various items, including designer clothes, sports cars and jewellery -- and even property.

The findings are part of research commissioned by the University of Central Lancashire where more than 300 people were consulted and 150 interviews took place in the town of Keighley.

Researcher Abdul Shukoor said: "The income and lifestyle of young people who sell drugs make them tempting role models for other young people living in areas and communities where there are perceived to be few positive life chances or career options."

The claim was made at a special meeting when the results of a Community Engagement Project were revealed.

Safiya Rehman, of Keighley's Project 6, led the research group of five people, four from the Keighley Asian community. Their findings revealed there was a drug problem in Keighley which was severe and increasing.

As part of the research, eight dealers and one ex-dealer were interviewed in the year-long probe into the drug abuse linked to the town's Muslim population.

Dealers spend up to £3,000 a time buying a variety of drugs. Five dealers said they would sell to anyone, but four admitted they would not sell to members of their own community.

During the interviews, which were not taped, one said: "I had the money. I thought to myself, why not live it large?"

Most of the dealers knew their trade was illegal and immoral, but one admitted: "If I get caught the most I'll get is five to seven years. At least I'll have my money to come back to."

Although friction between the town's two drug gangs - bottom enders and top enders - still existed after four men were killed in 2001, and 2002, dealers were avoiding turf disputes because of the murders.

Steroid use was also prevalent among users desperate to boost their self-esteem.

Since the appointment of Asian Communities worker Safiya Rehman in 2002 the number of Asian people using Project 6 had risen threefold.

But project director Mike Cadger said: "Project 6 has not pulled any punches on itself. We are saying what we are doing and why it is better than before Safiya came into post.

"We are not doing significantly well enough for those communities in Keighley that need our help."

He added: "The community needs to be educated. The community needs to be prepared to learn from us, and also teach us so more material understanding goes on."

The report made several recommendations, including better education in schools and drugs awareness programmes in the community.

More work needed to be done to address the "shame and honour" attitude in the Muslim communities.

Project 6 also needed to publicise its work more and carry out outreach work on the streets. Stephen Gallagher, Project 6 management committee chairman, said: "It has really struck me what a vital piece of work this is. It is an outstanding piece of research and incredibly important to work forward with."

Following the meeting, Cllr Khadim Hussain said the solution ultimately lay with the community.

"This excellent and shocking report should not be left to gather dust on a shelf," he said.

He added: "I hope that people wake up to the fact there is a massive problem. Unless the community is prepared to take the baton and address the issue, no one else will help. There is a taboo and we have to accept that. We have to make big strides to remove that. Project 6 also has to work more with the community."