AN open day is planned as part of a campaign to make communities safe from drugs and alcohol misuse.

The Hambleton Community Safety Partnership is one of 60 crime and drugs agencies across the country to join the Home Office's year-long project, Changing Lives: Making Communities Safer.

Throughout the year, the partnership will be promoting the scheme through awareness- raising initiatives, as well as taking part in national events.

It starts next Wednesday with National Tackling Drugs Day, when the partnership joins forces with Hambleton and Richmondshire Community Addiction Services (Harcas) to host an open day at its South Parade, Northallerton, office.

People can visit between 11am and 7pm to talk to substance misuse workers, counsellors and drop-in workers about their roles and the impact their work is having on the Hambleton community.

There will also be a room set aside for drug or alcohol users, relatives and others affected by drugs and alcohol to talk confidentially to a member of Harcas.

Service manager Ruth Garrett said: "This new campaign is a great way to allow the public to see just what we are doing to try to help drug users and their families cope.

"For many people talking about drug issues is a no go area, but this day will allow them to come into our office and meet people on an informal basis for a chat."