Tom Allen is the latest reality TV star to appear on our screens but, unlike many others, the 22-year-old from Malvern is not seeking fame and fortune. He is fighting drug addiction by working at a six-acre farm in Hereford.

The idea that persistent offenders could grow their way out of trouble was the brainchild of celebrity gardener Monty Don.

The Gardener's World presenter decided to set up the farm with the West Mercia Probation Service because he believed healthy living and working with the land could help people change their behaviour.

On it, offenders such as Tom grow vegetables, make chutney and raise animals while attempting to build new lives for themselves.

So far it has worked for Tom, who has given up heroin with the help of a methadone programme and he can now see a different future for himself and his family.

He said: "I got engaged and came to Malvern and had a kid. I changed my life around because I didn't want my kid to have the same life as I had.

"My fiancée has been with me for nine years. I've been to jail five times and she stayed for me every time. When I think back on what I've done wrong I owe her this much if anything to make both our lives more happy and liveable."

It is a far cry from his former life of shoplifting to pay for his drug habit and stealing cars for fun but he believes spending time on the farm has given him the chance to break the vicious cycle of drug abuse and crime.

He said: "If I hadn't been going to that project I'd still be running about with my friends in Malvern. It gave me something constructive to do with my time."

Inevitably it has not been plain sailing. He was hit hard when another participant in the programme, Martin, died from a heroin overdose, and he also clashed with Monty over the project's healthy eating ethos. As part of the regime, junk food is banned and offenders eat organic food, including their own produce and animals.

Tom said: "For 22 years I've been eating junk and the change took time, but I was looking for a reason to start arguments because I was still using drugs."

He went on: "I had a lot of stress on my shoulders and because of that I gave everybody a hard time. I'm a bit more relaxed now.

"At the start, I felt that Monty didn't know us and looked at us as if we were drug addicts but now he's come to a position where he can understand us more."

Viewers of the programme saw Tom and Monty make peace earlier in the series and Tom now wants to keep up the clean living.

He said: "Now that I've seen that way of life I don't want to go back to how I used to be. Living on a council housing estate people get to know you for stealing so there's not many who talk to you. But when you are on the straight and narrow people will have a bit more time for you."

In fact, the project's supporters believe the wider community could benefit hugely from the scheme because it will reduce the amount of crime carried out to fund drug habits.

And police officers are watching closely to see whether this smallholding could be a way to combat drug crime throughout the country.

A spokesman for south Worcestershire police said: "The project has already demonstrated that there are alternative methods of dealing with drug-related crime. As it progresses we are both hopeful and confident that further lessons will be learned - and the fight against drugs has a further weapon in its armoury."

Despite the high hopes, Tom remains realistic.

He said: "For us, when the project ends it's only the beginning."