After winning the Yorkshire section of the contest, Linda Knight will now go on to the national final with nine other regional winners.

The awards, now in their third year, aim to recognise those who go over and above the call of duty in tackling drug use in their communities.

Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said: "All the nominations in Yorkshire were outstanding, but Linda stood out for the remarkable work she is doing in her local community.

"Over0all drug use among adults and young people is at its lowest level in more than 10 years. Such impressive results could not have been achieved without the dedication of all the many professionals and volunteer... working to ensure that our communities are free of drug-related crime... "

Mrs Knight has worked in Barnsley for eight years.

She was nominated for the award for her efforts in setting up a support group which helped people who had made initial efforts to recover from their addiction and were trying to move on with their lives.

Mrs Knight said: "It's great to have recognition like this, but it really is a team effort and it's good to know that the work we do is noticed."

Two national winners will be announced on December 10 at a ceremony in London. Each will receive £10,000 for their organisation to spend on prevention or treatment of drug misuse.