A FATHER has told of his distress after finding used needles just yards from a children’s play area.

Lee Galletly, 33, last week discovered the syringes nestled amongst the leaves as his four-year-old son was playing on the adjacent park located just off Farriers Close, near the County Ground.

A worried Lee, who lives within a short walk of the play area, immediately reported the find to the council, whose environment team vowed to look into it.

Lee said: “The needles were easily within 10 metres of the play park. You just don’t expect to find this sort of stuff in the bushes and on the grass, especially so near to where children are playing.

“I think it’s a real danger. Someone only has to step on it and they could be in serious trouble. And it’s always a busy play area, very popular with parents.”

Lee, who takes his son to the play park most days, said it was the first time he had ever encountered discarded needles there.

The concerned dad, who has lived in the area for almost three years, said: “There are rarely any issues with anti-social behaviour around here, it’s a nice place, so it was really quite a shock.”

Last year, Conservative councillor for Covingham and Dorcan, Kevin Parry, said he was concerned for children’s welfare after a cluster of used needles was found by parents in Liden Green Play Park.

He said: “When you go to a play park as a family you shouldn’t have to worry about your child hurting themselves when they are running around.

“I don’t want a child to run over and injure themselves on needles which someone has thoughtlessly discarded – it’s not right and it’s not fair.”

Although the needles were quickly cleaned up, Coun Parry insisted that stopping people taking drugs in such close proximity to where children play was of paramount importance.

He said: “I have a very clear message to the people doing this - stop using these parks for drug taking.”

Other councillors highlighted that the local authority works closely with the police in order to to deter criminal activity such as drug taking, and that the best solution is to help bring people away from their addiction.

In response to Lee’s concerns, a Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “The council will remove discarded drug-related implements such as syringes and needles from public land as soon as possible.

“We would like to thank Mr Galletly for reporting this issue to us. Anyone who finds any needles should call 01793 445501.”