Swindon's first drug czar to steer young people away from illegal substances has been named.

Jennie Harmston will take up the post in the New Year, and will be responsible for strategies aimed at treating addicts and deterring others from getting hooked.

She will head the Swindon Drug Action Team, and carry on the work of the national drugs czar Keith Hellawell on a local level.

Ms Harmston said: "I am very committed to working closely with all those who have an interest or involvement with drugs and alcohol work within Swindon.

"I am pleased to have been appointed to this post as I believe there is real potential here in Swindon for us to make a difference to people's lives through the work of a dynamic drug action team."

The position has been funded by a £36,000 grant from the Government's UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit.

Up until now the town has been part of a Wiltshire and Swindon Drug Action Team, but it was recently agreed by the Government that each should have its own group to tackle drugs and alcohol issues.

The Wiltshire drugs czar, Ben Hughes, was appointed a month ago.

In Swindon, it has been estimated there are 1,200 heroin addicts. And girls as young as 14 are turning to prostitution to raise money for their drug habits.

During one month alone this year, Swindon police seized £59,000 worth of drugs in the town.

Ms Harmston is currently working with the regional Drug Prevention Advisory Service. In the past she has worked in Swindon as an advisory health promotion teacher for the Education and Health Promotion Services. The first meeting of Swindon's drug action team is taking place on Thursday, November 30, and will bring people together from the council's housing, social services and education departments, as well as from Swindon Police, Probation Service, the prison services, and other organisations committed to tackling drug and alcohol issues.

The chairman of the team is Mike Lusty, Swindon Council's director of education and community, who said: "Working together we will be able to develop a strategic approach to tackling drug and alcohol abuse within Swindon.

"A lot will depend on us engaging with all those who work in these fields and obtaining community support for the actions which are needed.

"Ms Harmston will have a key role in ensuring this is the case."