A BLACKBURN charity which helps drug addicts rebuild their lives and battle their addiction has appointed a new community worker to deal specifically with the Asian community.

Hanis Ali starts his role with the charity THOMAS, Those on The Margins of Society, this week and his brief is to deal with drug problems and disaffection within the community.

Management of the charity, based in St Anne's House, Blackburn, have won funding from the Home Office for the post.

Hanis' role will be to build links with community leaders and then look at how to tackle drug addiction with the community.

Director Father Jim McCartney said: "The community is certainly aware there are problems and are wanting to deal with it, but we believe they find it quite hard to respond."