WHEREVER drugs are taken, horror and danger are sure to follow.

The discovery by nine-year-old Jake McGowan of a dirty syringe at McDonald's in Canal Walk is a new outrage but not an unexpected one.

Any premises used by the public, and which has toilet facilities, is susceptible to being abused in this way, no matter how thorough its cleaning schedule.

In fact, any secluded place is a potential dumping ground for used needles, as certain Swindon allotment holders know only too well.

There seems little point in urging addicts to exercise caution and consideration, because when a person is in the grip of addiction, care about anything except the next fix is the first thing to be discarded.

However, there are ways of cutting the number of these incidents.

Chiefly, needle exchanges must insist that no clean needles will be handed over until the old ones have been turned in. There can be no exceptions.