A NATIONAL campaign to free communities of drug-related problems has been given a boost.

Bedale High School students took part in talks on drugs and alcohol abuse as part of a community safety event.

Hambleton Community Safety Partnership is one of 60 crime and drug agencies nationwide to sign up to a year-long project, Changing Lives: Making Communities Safer, run by the Home Office.

The project aims to teach communities about work being carried out to tackle crime, drugs, anti-social behaviour and alcohol misuses.

It is also designed to raise awareness of action being taken to help people feel safe, and provide partners with support, expertise and a forum where ideas can be developed and exchanged, successes shared and results reviewed.

Bedale students were given information by Hambleton and Richmondshire Community Addiction Service. They also learnt about issues such as arson and hoax calls, anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, vandalism, road safety, behaviour while going to and from school and victim and witness care.

The event also involved police, the fire and rescue service, community safety officers, Broadacres Housing Association, Victim Support and North Yorkshire County Council's travel awareness team.