Hypodermic needles found in County Durham park used by children

Residents of a County Durham village have expressed their fury after council officers discovered 30 hypodermic needles in a well-used piece of grassland that children regularly play on.

Earlier this week, council warden officers were patrolling land near the River Wear in Witton Park following public complaints about drug paraphernalia when they spotted numerous pieces of fly-tipping and two bin bags full of rubbish.

After investigating further, the Durham County Council neighbourhood wardens discovered 30 needles, empty paracetamol packets and a range of other items of litter.