DR Brian Iddon, MP for Bolton South-east, praised the work being done to get heroin addicts in the town into treatment.

Dr Iddon highlighted the work of the Bolton Drug Action Team in a debate in Westminster Hall last week.

The discussion aimed to underline one of the worst social problems in the UK today.

Dr Iddon spoke about the problems of drug misuse in Bolton, mentioning the recent tragic deaths of young prostitutes in the town.

He said: "Because of the problems in Bolton, we have taken a hard attitude towards getting people into treatment. Political leadership is very important.

"Drug Action Teams vary throughout the country, but under co-ordinator Sandie Nesbitt we have one of the best DATs in the country."

There are approximately 2,500 drug addicts in Bolton, 84 per cent of whom are heroin users. Almost half of these known drug addicts are currently receiving treatment in an effort to overcome their addiction.

Dr Iddon added: "There is an increasing demand for treatment, which I am pleased about, but the effect is that the waiting list for treatment is getting longer.

"We need to aim towards a situation in which no one has to wait for treatment."