MANY tourists often believe that rural areas such as the Dales escape the ravages of society found in inner cities.

But look deeper and you'll find that Craven too has it problems - drugs being one of them.

Last year Christian Fellowship churches in Skipton and Settle opened their doors to homeless people only to find that many of them had much greater problems than not having a roof over their heads.

Church leaders discovered that a large percentage were dependent on drugs of one form or another.

And so the Lighthouse Project was set up specifically designed to befriend "street people" and offer them support and a shoulder to lean on.

"When we opened our doors last year only two people turned up, but they asked us if we were going to make it a regular thing," said project chairman and treasurer Jack Woods.

"The second time we did it about a dozen people came along and it's just snowballed from there."

The project is now in regular contact with more than 100 Craven people whose bodies are dependent on drugs to get through daily life or are in the process of attempting to kick the habit.

Its twice weekly food kitchen provides them with a hot meal and a chance to talk to people about their problems.

"When people come into the kitchen we try to build up a relationship with them," said Mr Woods.

"We don't push the fact that we can send them to re-hab. We just make it known through leaflets that there's a possibility and it's really up to them to come and ask us about it."

The project also offers support for court appearances, prison visiting and hospital attendance.

"We also get involved in family problems," added Mr Woods, "because once you have a person who uses drugs within the family, everybody is affected.

"A lot of dependants commit criminal offences because they know if they get a prison sentence they can't get access to drugs and they come out clean.

"But sadly many of them drift back into it as soon as they are released."

Another way to rid your body of drugs is to spend a few months at a detoxification centre.

The Lighthouse Project offers the chance for drug addicts to get a place at one of five centres in Wales run by the charity Victory Outreach UK.

Its founder members David and Dinah Sansome have recently been awarded the MBE for their work.

During their stay college training is encouraged and there is a chance to gain formal qualifications such as NVQs and GCSEs in subjects such as catering, computing, management and other skills.

"Over the last 12 months we have referred 10 people to Victory Outreach and we have about a 50 per cent success rate," said Mr Woods.

"We have had many letters of gratitude from people who have been helped in this way."

Back in Craven, the Lighthouse Project also realises that many drug users are trapped in a vicious circle and getting a job is one way out of it.

The project is looking at ways of approaching some of the larger employers in the Craven area with a view to taking on former dependants eager to break free from their former lifestyle.

It costs around £4,500 a year to run the project, although it receives no official funding.

Cash is collected by applying for grants and through donations.

"Although we are helping more than 100 drug dependants we're just really scratching the surface," revealed Mr Woods.

"There are a lot more needy people out there who we would love to contact, but this is just the tip of the iceberg - it's a big problem."