A SERVICE for people with alcohol and drug problems in North Durham has been hailed a success by health chiefs.

The Claypath Project has helped more than 158 people - 110 for substance use and 48 for alcohol problems - since it was launched in December.

The service, which deals with illegal drugs, solvents and prescription drugs, is based at William Robson House, Moody's Yard, Claypath, Durham, and at Chester-le-Street Health Centre.

It provides information, intensive support and counselling, a needle exchange scheme, assessment and treatment and runs a weekly drugs-in-sport clinic at Chester-le-Street.

It was set up with £600,000 from the County Durham Drug and Alcohol Action Team and is run by staff from the North-East Council on Addiction, County Durham and Darlington Priority Services Trust and County Durham Social Care and Health.

Action team co-ordinator David Cliff: "The new centres provide a modern, comfortable environment where staff from various agencies can work together to provide a complete package of care and support to people with substance misuse problems and their families.

"The new centres provide a vital service to members of the community with a complex range of social and medical needs and their locations are easily accessible to those that need to use the services.

"I am delighted that they have already been a big success, receiving 209 referrals and giving 60 hepatitis B vaccinations up to the end of June.''

Andrew Young, chief executive of the primary care trust, said: "This new service is an excellent example of how joint working can enable effective treatment services to be offered for the benefit of people with substance misuse or alcohol problems and their families.''

To seek help from the service, call the William Robson Centre, on 0191-386 6555, or Chester-le-Street Health Centre, on 0191-333 6001.