A SERIES of "mini conferences" has been staged in the borough to try to tackle drug abuse.

More than 100 experts and community leaders gave their views to Bury's Drug Action Team (DAT) and the borough's Community Safety Partnership.

Last week's final conference was addressed by the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drugs, Bolton MP Brian Iddon.

Mr David Barrie, DAT co-ordinator, said: "Drugs affect all communities, in lots of different ways. Sometimes it is just worries about what groups of young people are doing.

"At other times, it's about finding used needles in public places, something which really frightens people.

"We wanted to find out what local people think we should be concentrating on over the next few years.

"Is it drug education in schools? Or improved treatment for drug users? Or should we be looking at helping the police to devote more resources to tackling drug problems?

"We haven't got the answers yet, but we believe that the best answers lie out there in the experience and knowledge of the community."

A list of priorities is to be drawn up.