against drug dealers.

But the Ord Road and Spring Hill Against Drugs (ORSHAD) will reduce the number of vigils it holds each week, organisers said.

Last year, ORSHAD staged more than 115 night-time vigils, in some cases more than four times a week.

Groups of 10 people went out into the streets and watch the night-time activities in that area of Warwick.

This year, ORSHAD have decided that the vigils will only take place once-a-week but will go out at a variety of times to give the dealers little warning. President Mr. Stanley Thomas said: "It was an ambitious programme and it was successful in reducing drug activity in the area.

"But each member has a family and individual work commitments that prevent them continuing with such dedication, especially when each of us has, in some way or another, been affected by the recession.'' Public relations officer Mr. Tim Smith said: "While we have reduced the amount of drug dealing in the area, the neighbours are frustrated with the problem of loitering and public drunkenness.'' Mr. Smith said the teams would continue to go out for shifts of three to fours hours to look out for any drug deals.

He said the scheme had been "a great success in discouraging people from coming into the Ord Road area to buy drugs''.

"Even if we do not get rid of the dealers the people buying the drugs tend not to stop if they see a group of good citizens hanging around. They do not like the idea of doing deals in the view of 10 pairs of eyes,'' he said.

"If the people buying the drugs are not keen to come to the area the people selling the drugs will eventually leave as well. We do not want them here.'' The group has agreed to sit down and discuss further strategies with Police Commissioner Mr. Lennie (Lennett) Edwards.

Mr. Smith said: "There is little interchange between us and the dealers. We do not want to be confrontational.''