A FOUNDER of a ground-breaking drug service is leaving the organisation he helped to set up six years ago.

Ian Clements, of Waterfoot, is chairman of trustees at Early Break, which provides counselling and support for young people and families who are affected by drug problems in Bury and Rochdale.

He is stepping down because new work commitments have meant he will be based in Bristol as regional manager of the Government's drug prevention advisory service.

Early Break was set up by Ian and education consultant Barbara Jack in 1994 and has helped more than 1,000 young people.

Barbara, now service director, said: "Ian has had enormous influence on the development of school drugs education policies and young people's services in the North West. He's also internationally recognised as a leading consultant on drugs issues."