ALCESTER community groups can take advantage of more Government money to tackle drug problems in the town.

The Building Safer Communities funds have been made available through the Stratford District Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).

Cash is awarded to community projects which impact on disrupting drugs markets, tackling drug-related crime and disorder or educating communities about the perils of drugs.

Tony Archer, programme manager, said: "Education, enforcement of drugs legislation and treatment programmes all tackle the problem of illegal drug use from different angles but have the same aim - to reduce the threat that illegal drug use poses to our communities."

In the past year, Shipston has already started Drug Action Shipston (DASH) where funds were made available for a drugs awareness disco for young people in the town.

Councillor Juliet Short said: "While Stratford does not have a serious drugs problem, that could change if we sit back and did nothing. Clearly, we are not prepared to do that.

"Initiatives this fund supports will give us resources to tackle problems where they occur and in many cases, preventing them from occurring at all."

Community groups in Alcester seeking funding for similar drugs-related work can call Mr Archer on 01926 456075.