A PIONEERING drugs charity used as a national blueprint for helping addicts is setting its sights on Burnley in a move heralded as a godsend.

Those on the Margins of Society (THOMAS) has helped hundreds of people get their lives back on track in the 10 years since it was launched in Blackburn.

Now Father Jim McCartney, the group's inspirational founder and chief executive, is aiming to expand the service to tackle the drugs problem which is behind much of Burnley's crime.

The exact details of the Burnley project, including confirmation of funding, have still to be established but Fr Jim hopes it will be under way as soon as next April.

Under the scheme, people released from prison will go straight into accommodation instead of going back into the community and will undergo intensive rehabilitation under 24-hour monitoring.

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

The THOMAS project relies on Government and European funding as well as charity donations.

Fr Jim 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 and 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.

"There are already drug tests and treatment orders for those released from prison 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."

THOMAS began as a soup kitchen and now runs 12-week rehabilitation programmes and a host of other services for people with drug problems.

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

Burnley MP Peter Pike said: "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."

The leader of Burnley Council, Stuart Caddy, said he would support the charity's efforts to help tackle Burnley's drug problem.

He said: "Anything that supports the work of the Lancashire Drug Action Team will be personally supported by me.

"It would need careful planning in terms of location, I'm not sure where they would situate it. But I look forward to receiving their proposals for such a facility."

Coun Caddy added: "If you talk to the police, the probation services and other agencies it is clear that drugs is one of the big issues in tackling crime, not just in Burnley but all over East Lancashire."

Mayor of Blackburn, Coun Mike Barrett, said: "The work that THOMAS has developed in Blackburn with Darwen has been a Godsend and it could do the same for Burnley."

Surveys undertaken following the riots in Burnley, to help establish the underlying causes of the trouble, revealed that Burnley residents were very concerned about the town's drugs problem.

The Burnley Drugs Audit, conducted by Manchester University in 2001, also revealed gaps in drug treatment.

Plans are currently being developed by Burnley Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust (PCT) and the Lancashire Drug Action Team for a £1.6million "street agency" in the town centre, which would include a needle exchange, a low threshold prescribing service, treatment services and an advice and information service.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Gray, from Burnley Police, said: "Burnley, like any other town, has a drug culture for which there is a multitude of partner-based activity aimed at the rehabilitation of the drug offender.

"This partnership activity already includes a number of charity organisations who provide valued support to that process.

"Clearly, the addition of a further charity whose aims are to support that very process will be greatly welcomed."