'The Kirriemuir Healthy, Happy Community Project' will work with local people and a range of professionals to develop their knowledge of alcohol and of the impact that alcohol misuse can have on a community.

This project will run in conjunction with a project site in Brechin. As the project progresses both communities will work together to share their learning and experiences.

The year-long Kirriemuir project will identify which alcohol-related issues are important to local people, and community members will then draw up action plans to deal with these issues.

It is expected that issues such as alcohol and young people, older people and anti-social behaviour may be explored further within the project.

Representatives from Tayside Council on Alcohol, NHS Tayside, Angus Council and community members will identify the issue they will take forward within the project.

Newly appointed team manager for the Kirriemuir project, Ali Thornton of Angus Council who is also the Choose Life project development officer, said: "To ensure the best positive start to this project we need to encourage a wide range of community members to come forward and take part in the inaugural event, 'Experts on the Ground', to be held at Stracathro Hospital on Thursday, May 15 from 10 am to 2 pm.

"The aim of this event is to get to know the people and issues in Kirriemuir so the project we develop is meaningful to the community. This is a 'call for action' to the people of Kirriemuir to contact me directly on 01307 474824 to book a place.

"It is crucial to have community members' involvement in this first important event."

This project is another addition to the Angus Drug and Alcohol Action Team's project Focus on Alcohol Angus.

Project Manager Eileen McArthur said: "This initiative is prompted by local interest in the issues of alcohol misuse.

"It is really exciting as it is based on producing social marketing messages. These are messages that promote the social health and wellbeing of a community.

"This is an innovative approach as the messages will actually be developed by the community members and professionals within the Kirriemuir area.

"Ultimately, this action project aims to contribute to a cultural change in the way people think about alcohol and the effects it can have on quality of life."