A new group of volunteers has begun training with Bristol Drugs Project to help addicts.

About 3,500 drug users are helped each year by BDP, which launched a new six-week training course last week.

Safer Bristol, the partnership that tackles drug misuse across the city, is behind the project, which recruits local people three times a year.

Through the combined efforts of Safer Bristol, BDP, other drug treatment agencies, and the volunteers, there has been a fall in the number of drug addicts in the city.

Sue Bandcroft, senior commissioning manager in Safer Bristol's drug strategy team, said: "Volunteers enhance and extend the range of services our drugs agencies can provide.

"The volunteers gain from the training and experience, which in many cases they use as a stepping stone to a career in the field, while the users benefit from wider-ranging and enhanced services.

"The community also benefits. By us working together we are helping to combat drug use and drug related crime, and ultimately make the communities of Bristol safer."

A group of 15 volunteers began their training at BDP last Thursday. The training, over two days a week for six weeks, covers everything from drug awareness to communication and confidence building.

Katie Jacobs, 26, was a volunteer with Bristol Drugs Project for two years, and said it's a big commitment but incredibly rewarding.