JUST five years ago, Ayia Napa was a typical Cypriot community. White-washed buildings and cobbled streets gave way to a beach populated mainly by older people.

Ayia Napa 2001 is a different place. The traditional hub of Ayia Napa's community, The Square, has now become home to some 20 nightclubs, pumping out loud music all night and ensuring the town centre is busier at 4am than at 4pm.

It's transformation into the 'second Ibiza' - a term the authorities there are keen to distance themselves from - has brought millions of pounds, and tourists, into the country.

But it has also brought a culture shock - and the threat of drugs.

The jailing of Burnley drug dealers Paul Hartley, 25, a married man with two children, and Lee Mortimer, 22, earlier this week for three years was, said Judge Andreas Paschalides, designed to set an example to people thinking of running a similar trade on the island.

Joanne Seddon, 25 from the Ribble Valley, began repping for a British package holiday firm three years ago. She spent a year in Ibiza but switched to Ayia Napa two years ago. She says this season has brought with it the arrival of some of the 'negative' aspects of Ibiza.

She said: "I have seen that drugs are much more prevalent, but nothing like on the scale of Ibiza. People come here for a good time, not to dance while off their face and I hope that continues.

"There is a tough stance against drugs here. If maids find drugs in a room, they won't think twice about reporting it to the police.

"The whole major tourist resort thing is new to the people here and they don't want their town to be destroyed.

Judge Paschalides said he was handing down stiff sentences because Ayia Napa had a fast growing reputation "as a paradise for drugs".

Hartley and Mortimer were arrested in Ayia Napa on June 13 on suspicion of peddling drugs. Police found the ecstasy pills during a search of their apartment.

Judge Paschalides said: "A deterrent sentence needs to be handed down to curb the plague of drugs on society."

Some 42 young Britons have been arrested on drug-related charges in Ayia Napa since April 1.

Around three million tourists descend on the island each year, with half of them British. It is now famous for its garage music scene - which combines fast music with fast lyrics.

Cyprus earns more than £700 million from tourism every year and about 20 per cent of the island's work force is employed in the sector.

The tourist boom has stunned residents. They want action to have the club scene halted. They want a return to the quiet life - away from the drunken antics and the pumping music until 8am.

Ayia Napa's police chiefs say the residents are over-exaggerating - but have vowed to get tough on the drug pushers. One holidaymaker, who has just returned from the island but asked not to be named, said: "You don't really notice the drugs there. It is more obvious back home on a night out in Blackburn."

Joanne added: "There is a real fear that drugs will wreck this place. Rumours are rife that roofies (rohypnol, the date rape drug) are being dropped into drinks and E is being sold.

"But the police don't turn a blind eye. There is a real risk of being caught and most people don't want to buy drugs anyway.

"I just hope it stays that way."

Britain is backing Cyprus' efforts to curb drugs through the screening of a special video on flights to the island.

The message of the video is "drugs and Cyprus equals jail."

Drugs expert Charlie Charalambous, from the English-speaking Cyprus Weekly newspaper said: "There is a very hard line on drugs here. "The simple message is don't do it. You can look at a long jail sentence just for a few grams of cannabis, it is that severe.

A spokesman for Lifeline, a drugs and solvents support charity which operates in East Lancashire, said: "People do sometimes begin taking drugs abroad.

"Often the laws can be quite different to here and it is a real risk to take. Unfortunately, drug-taking seems to be a must part of some holidays for people from East Lancashire."

British High Commissioner in Cyprus Edward Clay said: "Our message is simple - don't do drugs here.

And Burnley MP Peter Pike said: "Young people are putting themselves at risk by dealing in drugs and taking them.

"They should not take them into other countries or become involved in them. If you break the law, you must be prepared to face the consequences."