THE purity of heroin in Worcester is twice as high as in big cities like Manchester, according to the city's drugs support team.

Users are likely to become hooked much more quickly and run a greater risk of overdosing.

The drug's falling price and increased availability in the city is also tempting more young people to try it, says Richard Allsup, service manager at Worcester Druglink.

The Foregate Street service, which offers free, confidential support, counselling, advice and information, has been given extra funds to help it deal with heroin's increasing popularity.

It has been given £193,000 to pay the wages of five new members of staff over the next two years - but it also wants GPs to help it with its fight against drugs.

Druglink is dealing with more young people than ever before, as children start experimenting at an earlier age.

It is also keen to reach out to more women and ethnic minorities with drug problems.

Mr Allsup said the injection of extra money showed that the Government recognised what the service was up against.

"Heroin has become cheaper and cheaper over the past 10 years," he said.

"Availability is increasing and last year, for the first time ever, more than half the people who came to see us with heroin problems were under the age of 24.

"I find this shocking. By the time people come to us, they've already suffered a great deal."

He said the high purity level of heroin and its increased availability in Worcester were caused by the route the drug took after being imported.

"A lot of heroin is imported through South Wales. As it travels through motorway networks, it's cut through other dealers.

"Purity of heroin is high. In Worcester and Hereford, it's 50 to 60 per cent pure - in Manchester it's just 20 to 30 per cent.

"A £10 bag in Worcester will contain twice the amount of heroin as a bag in Manchester. This leads to an increased overdose risk and increased dependency."

The service says it needs the help of GPs to combat the drug problem in the city, an idea that has been met with a lukewarm response from GPs in the city.

But Druglink aims to get at least 30 per cent of GPs in South Worcestershire involved in Partnership Protocols by April 1 next year.

The organisation is looking to take on two full-time project workers, one part-time project worker and a part-time women's project worker for the Worcester area.

Druglink works in collaboration with the Alcohol Advisory Service and the Community Drugs Team.

For more information, call Mr Allsup on 01905 724754.