This is the woman chosen to lead the battle against Swindon's spiralling drugs problem.

Jennie Harmston has been named the town's first drug czar, whose task is to stifle the availability of illegal substances and help those hooked on them.

And today she talks for the first time about the enormous challenge she faces.

From the New Year, she will head the Swindon Drug Action Team (DAT) a partnership of police, education, council, youth and other agencies set up to tackle drug and alcohol issues at a local level.

Representatives from these groups came together at the civic offices yesterday to discuss the way forward and nominate members to join the DAT, which holds its first meeting on November 30.

Ms Harmston, a 44-year-old mother, wants to reverse a growing trend in drug abuse in Swindon.

Because of its position on the M4 corridor, a route used by drug dealers to bring heroin to the West, and its growing prosperity, Swindon has around 1,200 heroin users of all ages and classes.

The latest police statistics show that between May and September this year, drugs worth £12,288 were seized in the town and 70 people were arrested for supplying, or possessing with intent to supply, illegal substances. A further 104 were arrested for possessing drugs and four for growing them.

Drug-related crime is also on the up. CCTV footage led to the conviction of a teenager in April who, high on LSD, rained blows on a man before stealing his wallet.

Ms Harmston, whose post has been funded by a £36,000 grant from the Government's UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit, believes communication and co-operation between all the bodies involved is the way forward.

She said: "We need to work in partnership with all the agencies to make sure we know exactly what the situation is in the town and that treatment is available. We must also think about prevention in schools, the youth service and the community."

The Drug Action Team will be made up of 12 to 16 people who represent interested organisations at the highest level. It will be given targets to reduce the number of drug users and will be visited by the national drugs czar Keith Halliwell or his assistant.

Swindon Council is also involved with the Drug Action Team. Coun John Taylor, Lead Member for Healthy Living, said: "We all know that substance misuse can and will kill. It can and will corrode family and inter-personal relationships. We are very pleased Ms Harmston is on board."