A LEADING councillor today moved to reassure parents that help was at hand for youngsters who get caught in the evil web of drug-taking.

Sue Reid, who heads Blackburn with Darwen's social services team, spoke out after the Lancashire Evening Telegraph revealed that heroin is now being sold for as little as £5 a wrap.

Police believe the killer Class A drug has come down in price because there is a flood of it in Britain -- and also so that drug addicts can get it more easily.

Some dealers are believed to be breaking the wraps in half to sell them for less, while other dealers have halved the price of a regular wrap.

The concern among drug workers is that, at £5, the drug has entered the pocket money bracket and could be purchased or targeted at impressionable teenagers who are possibly already dabbling with drugs like cannabis.

Coun Reid said: "While even one young person on heroin is one too many, we have to be clear that there is not a large problem of young addicts in Blackburn with Darwen.

"The council works in partnership with a number of agencies and schools to provide drug education classes.

"We also have an early intervention strategy for people who work with young people, which enables them to get the right support and help as soon as any youngster shows signs of substance abuse.

"This is not a new initiative, but a long-standing policy which aims to prevent young people from becoming drug users and to give swift and effective help to those few who do."

Earlier this month, the Blackburn with Darwen Drug Action Team launched a strategy to combat misuse of substances among young people.

Among its aims is to make sure everyone coming into contact with young people can spot signs of substance mis-use.

Teachers and youth workers already have been, and now staff such as careers advisers are also receiving similar training.

It also plans to help implement drugs education in all high schools and 85 per cent of primary schools.