DRUG help groups are trying to find a new site for a needle exchange and advice centre in Malvern.

Worcestershire Council's Substance Misuse Action Team (SMAT) and charity Worcester Turning Point Druglink had a proposal for a centre in Church Street rejected by Malvern Hills District Council last month.

They are working with MHDC to find an alternative.

Richard Allsup of Druglink said there were only four drug service centres in the county and all had suffered opposition.

"I understand people's concerns. It's a bit like disposing nuclear waste - no-one would like it in close proximity," said Mr Allsup.

"But if you look at the evidence of any acts of aggression, there aren't any in 11 years of these centres operating.

"The idea that suddenly lots of drug users are going to appear in Malvern is wrong. The drugs problems are already there - we are advocating a treatment service to reduce the numbers."

He said centre would treat around 50 drug users a week, who would either visit the centre or receive treatment at home.

He said he hoped another application could be submitted by September and warned critics of the plan: "If Malvern doesn't want a drug service then I guess we would have to continue our outreach service from Worcester but that would be second-best provision."

David Murray, head of development control with MHDC, confirmed the council was working with the groups and that a town centre location was not a problem.

"We are talking to them and they are sending us out to look at places to see if there is another site - anyone who has a plan rejected would do that," he said.

"At the planning committee that rejected the application, there was a fair amount of support from councillors about the nature of what the centre would do.

"The problem was the sharing of access and internal stairwells with housing."