EIGHT people have died from drug related deaths in St Helens since the turn of the year.

The frightening statistic, said to mirror national trends, has emerged as drug service providers announced they are stepping up a campaign to tackle the problem.

Merseyside Drug Council's North Road project in partnership with the drug action team ran an overdose awareness day at St Helens' Hope Centre.

There, drug users were educated about the risks of overdosing from drugs and alcohol. They were also given basic first aid training by St John Ambulance and even advised how to phone an ambulance if any of their friends overdose.

More sessions are planned for the coming months which will cover safe injecting and ways of cutting serious health problems.