In the former coalfield area of Worksop one family with three brothers hooked on heroin say the drug has destroyed their lives.

Son and addict, Ian, said: "I have to go out shoplifting every other day to support my habit.

"It is absolutely devastating to my family - there is me and my two brothers on heroin, so all three sons are hooked on it."

Roaming around

Another young man named Carl said: "My family hasn't got a life because they are so worried about me all the time.

"It has just ripped my family to pieces."

Five heroin deaths in five months in Manton

A third heroin user, a 28-year-old graphic designer with a university degree who does not want to be named, told BBC News he cannot stop using the drug.

"Stress from the day's work means you need to unwind, and heroin is fantastic because you can forget almost all the difficulties that happen to you.

"Even if you don't forget them, you don't really care."

It is estimated that there are thousands of drug addicts in Worksop and other north Nottinghamshire villages and towns.

In Manton, a small village near Worksop, five people have died in five months from heroin overdoses.

Special inquiry

Donna Marsh, who is a miner's daughter and is married to a miner, has a 20-year-old son who is addicted to heroin.

"I feel horrible to see this happening in the streets of the village I grew up in.

"Socially the generation of 16 to 25-year-olds are being wiped out.

"Something has to be done to stop it."

We want seamless treatment until they are off the drug and we want dealers named and shamed and banged up

John Mann Bassetlaw MP

Bassetlaw MP, John Mann, who has called for a special inquiry into drug addiction in his constituency, told BBC Radio Nottingham: "We are taking our report to Downing Street on Monday and I am raising the issue with the Prime Minister on Wednesday at PM question time."

Mr Mann said he had spoken to more than 100 drug addicts during the hearings and most of them said they robbed and stole to support their habit.

"We need more resources on the ground in Bassetlaw to fight this problem and we need more prevention work in the schools."

The MP said that �20m worth of goods were stolen in the Bassetlaw constituency every year by addicts.

He said �100m is spent on treatment and another �177m on defence solicitors for the defence of heroin addicts charged with crimes.

"We want seamless treatment until they are off the drug and we want dealers named and shamed and banged up."