HEROIN addicts are inundating a Gwent project helping them kick their drugs habit - and the ground-breaking scheme is now set to expand.

The Newport-based Kal-eidoscope project, which treats heroin addicts with counselling and heroin-substitute methadone, could expand to Blaenau Gwent by the end of April.

A Kaleidoscope bus already runs to Caer-philly, Caldicot and Aber-gavenny to treat drug users there, but executive director Martin Blake-brough says another base is needed to cope with increasing demand.

The project, in St Paul's Church, Newport, was officially launched last Nov-ember and already has 150 users, with about 160 more awaiting assessment. The initial plan was to treat 100 drug users.

Mr Blakebrough said: "We will get to a point where we won't be able to meet demand unless we are given new premises.

"We are looking at and speaking to Blaenau Gwent council about setting up another base in Ebbw Vale or Tredegar. We hope to set that up by the end of April.

"Not all of those wanting to come for assessment will need treatment with methadone, but they may need support or counselling.

"We hope to have seen them all by the end of February. "We're stretching our budget and can't indefinitely treat people, but in my opinion it will balance out to around 200 clients."

The National Assembly gave the project £380,000 for one year, the majority of which was to set up base in Newport.

Mr Blakebrough was positive about coping with the current level of funding, but said they would appreciate help from volunteers and doctors who can spare some time.

"Ultimately we need more support," he said. "Taking on more people means more pressure on staff.

"Eventually support from the statutory bodies will run out, but we recognise we can't build Rome in a day.

"We were given a reasonable grant, but we underestimated the number of people needing treatment.

"A number of people are looking to try to find ways of giving us extra support and resources. Interest and commitment in this area is really good."

The project provides an alternative to NHS treatment, which had waiting lists for services of up to 18 months in Gwent in the past.

l You can visit Gwent Kaleidoscope Project at St Paul's Church, Commercial Street, Newport, call 01633 211001, or visit the website www.kaleidoscopeproject.org.uk