DRUGS amnesty safes have been installed at two of Burnley town centre nightspots.

The scheme is the first of its kind in East Lancashire and has been introduced at the Chicago Rock and The Works both in the same building in Hammerton Street in an attempt to rid the town centre of drug related problems.

Pub and club goers will have the chance to anonymously dispose of any drugs into a drugs amnesty safe as they enter the licensed premises.

If drugs are found on them in routine searches, done as a condition of entry, they will be handed over to the police and face a one-year ban from the town centre as well as any other measures which may be taken against them.

When the drugs safes are emptied it will be done by the police and club owner simultaneously.

Sgt John Bullas said similar schemes had been introduced in Preston and Coventry with some success. It is hoped the scheme will help to prevent the "spiking" of drinks in town centre pubs and clubs.

Two clubbers collapsed at the weekend after their drinks were spiked with the liquid veterinary drug GBH. In November and December nine people collapsed during nights out and needed hospital treatment.

In a separate initiative police have warned that more drugs raids are planned on suspected properties.

Officers working on the Burnley Residents Against drugs initiative have already raided a number of houses in different areas of the town

Insp John Clucas said they were determined to crack down on drugs, catch the dealers and lock them up. He said: "The use and abuse of drugs and the acquisitive crime that inevitably follows will not be tolerated. We are determined to find out who the suppliers are and bring them to justice."

Anyone with information about drugs related crime is asked to ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Local police and licensees are backing the pub/club amnesty scheme following on the successful Burnley Against Night-time Disorder initiative.

Sgt Bullas, who is co-ordinating the campaign, said: "The aim of the BAND initiative is to make Burnley a safer place to be on a night out. A lot of work has already been done to tackle disorder and we are now turning out attention to drugs."

He added: "The message is clear. We don't want people using and abusing drugs in Burnley's pubs and clubs.

"Anyone who chooses to ignore the amnesty and takes drugs into licensed premises faces a very real chance that they will be caught."

Tom Maloney, general manager of The Works said they were supporting the initiative because they did not want people using drugs in The Works and certainly did not want people dealing drugs at the club.

"That is totally unacceptable." he said.

Police want other licensed premises to join in the scheme to reduce the use and supply of drugs in the town centre.