A RESIDENT has expressed his shock after finding drug paraphernalia in a public toilet and police have now increased foot patrols around Abbey Park in Evesham after more than 50 needles and syringes were found along a public footpath close to the park.

The needles and syringes were found during the Anti-Litter Evesham community group’s Great British Spring clean at the end of May, and last week, on June 10, resident Andrew Johnson found drug paraphernalia in the Oat Street public toilets, near Workman Gardens in Evesham, which included tin foil and and a syringe.

Mr Johnson said: "When I first saw it I was in shock and was disgusted to see that someone had left all that paraphernalia behind, after so obviously using the toilets to use drugs.

"Moreover that a child could have easily have seen it and picked it up if left unattended."

Following these recent incidents, an officer from Evesham's Safer Neighbourhood Team has said officers have increased foot patrols in the Abbey Park area, and reassured residents that these incidents will decrease.

The officer said: "I can confirm that I was passed details of the syringes in the alley which runs away from the park towards Abbey Road.

"Since this report we have increased foot patrols in the area at varying times of the day."

"We patrol the Workman Gardens area and Workman Bridge regularly on our patrol plan and we will continue to do so.

"Naturally finding drug paraphernalia in public toilets is alarming for the safety of other members of the public. However, with increased police presence these incidents will decrease dramatically."

Keep Britain Tidy ambassador Karen Blanchfield found more than 50 needles and syringes along the public footpath which leads to Abbey Park during the anti-litter group's clean.

Speaking to the Evesham Journal at the beginning of this month, she said: "I usually find one or two syringes, but this was over 50, which we found with another lady volunteering.

“We literally had to pull back overgrown roots and there were just bags full of it and the packs which they use – some weren’t open but the ones which were open were either used or we weren’t sure.

“There were also methadone bottles and asthma inhalers.

“You could hear the children playing close to where we found it along the public footpath – fortunately the syringes and needles where quite far inside the bush which was overgrown. We got in there by using our gardening equipment, but if a child got in there they could have stepped on it - it was so dangerous."

The needles and syringes were reported for safe disposal.