RESIDENTS are being urged to clean out their medicine cupboards and back a Droitwich drugs amnesty.

Unwanted prescription pills, creams and dressings will be accepted for one week in June, no questions asked, at collection centres across the town.

Organisers claim the yearly cost of wasted prescription drugs in the town totals £100,000. It is now hoped the amnesty will help discourage stockpiling.

Droitwich Spa Forum for Older People is co-ordinating the drive, with support from South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, the town's GPs, pharmacists and the police.

Forum health chief Sheila Neary said: "Lots of people are entitled to repeat prescriptions but they must be careful not to hoard pills and treatments they do not need.

"It's estimated that £100,000 is wasted in this way.

"If we are all more careful, a massive chunk of this money could be saved and spent in other vital areas."

From Monday, June 2, to Friday June 6, residents will have a choice of five venues to attend between 10am and 3pm.

The week will begin at The Spring Meadow, Primsland Way, before moving to Emmanuel Church, Lullowfield House, The Old Library Centre and Westlands Community Hall.

"I must make it clear that we do not want people to go short and you must still collect the prescription drugs that you need," Ms Neary said.

A Primary Care Trust spokeswoman praised the forum's initiative and said a similar scheme operated across South Worcestershire in 2002.

"We had a good response then, although it is difficult to measure because we don't know exactly what people have got tucked away. The key aim is to raise awareness," she said.