Parents of drug abusers on a Bradford estate are being offered support to help them cope with the problem.

A needle exchange service is also being considered to stop addicts leaving their used equipment in the streets of Thorpe Edge.

Organisers of the new Thorpe Edge support group are hoping more residents will get involved at a public meeting next week.

They said a survey of more than 100 people on the estate showed the scale of their fears about Drugs.

Temporary community worker Bill Cardwell said: "Of those questioned, 97 per cent said they were extremely worried about the drug situation and 87 per cent said they wanted some kind of parent support service set up.

"Drugs are a very big problem and one of the main things people are worried about most are the needles and syringes lying about in the streets and the blocks.

"Children as young as four and five are picking them up and taking them home, which is a big worry.

"It's a situation the parents want to do something about and they would like a needle exchange set up.

"They also need to know they can get support, advice and help to cope with drug abusers in their own family."

Thorpe Edge Community Forum chairman Gareth Logan said: "It's a great step forward on the estate to actually give support to the parents who are trying to cope on their own."

The public meeting will be held on Wednesday at the Tracc office in Livingstone House on Greystone Crescent, starting at 7.30pm.

Speakers will include parents themselves and representatives from different agencies dealing with drugs and young people.

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