A BLACKBURN drug-users' charity, a national blueprint for helping addicts, is preparing to open in Burnley.

Those on the Margins of Society (THOMAS) has successfully operated in the Blackburn area for 10 years and has been hailed as a Godsend for the area.

The group, based at St Anne's House, next to St Anne's RC Church, in France Street, works with drug-users, alcoholics and other disadvantaged groups who suffer social exclusion.

The project relies on government and European funding, as well as charity donations.

Now, Father Jim McCartney, chief executive and founder of THOMAS, wants to expand the service and establish an accommodation-based project in Burnley to rehabilitate people on release from prison.

The exact details, including confirmation of funding, have still to be established, but it could be under way as soon as next April.

Under the scheme, addicts released from jail would go straight into the facility instead of going back into the community and would undergo intensive rehabilitation under 24-hour monitoring.

Reducing drug addiction, it is hoped, will reduce the risk of reoffending and therefore cut crime.

Father McCartney said: "I have had a brief meeting with certain funding bodies in the Burnley area and hope to take it further in January. I think there is a drug problem in every area and we have to be creative and look at how we can provide services to people who are marginalised.

"I think now THOMAS is equipped with an expertise that it can move into another area. What I would like to do in the New Year is to send one of our researchers to liaise with people working in that area already and see how THOMAS could provide additional services to existing projects.

"What we would like to set up is an accommodation-based project for people on release from prison instead of going back into the community. There are Drug Tests and Treatment Orders but some people need more than that.

"We are looking at how we can tackle drugs and crime problems based on what we have done in Blackburn. It is not impossible to think that we could set something up for the next financial year, but it does depend on funding."

Mayor of Blackburn Coun Mike Barrett said: "The work that THOMAS has developed in Blackburn with Darwen has been a Godsend. It has been wonderful and the idea of it going more regional and nationwide is brilliant.

"I support Father Jim entirely and I will offer all the support I can as the work they do is fantastic."

THOMAS, which has been shortlisted for two Pride of East Lancashire Awards, began as a soup kitchen and now runs 12-week rehabilitation programmes and a host of other services for people with drug problems.

Burnley MP Peter Pike, said: "The principal is a good thing. We need to do a lot more to assist people who want to get off drugs. There is a lack of facilities for people trying to get off drugs and this would be intermediatory and give them a cushion."