ANXIOUS parents are pleading with their local council to clean up waste land behind their homes after finding used hypodermic needles.

The land behind Wharton Street, Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, is a popular place for children to play, but parents are being warned to be vigilant after a group of youngsters found ten needles in a bush.

One parent, who did not wish to be named, said she was frightened to let her children play outside.

She said: "There are a lot of children who play down there.

"It is not the first time that needles have been found in Coundon and I just want parents to know what is happening so that they can warn their kids."

One man said he collected the needles himself because he could not get anyone from Wear Valley District Council or the police to come out immediately.

He said: "I know you are not supposed to pick them up, but I couldn't leave them there in case the kids picked them up. The police did not come out until an hour and a half later."

A mother said she contacted the local school to ask teachers to warn children about needles.

She said: "Fortunately they are already taught about needles at school, and they came and got us instead of picking them up themselves, but I have asked the school to talk to the kids again, just in case."

Councillor Neil Stonehouse, deputy leader of Wear Valley District Council and ward member for Coundon, said he would be asking the council to clear the wasteland.

He said: "We are trying to combat this problem in Coundon and I will be looking into this.''

Inspector Ian Martin, from Bishop Auckland Police, said officers did not attend the scene straight away because they were told that the needles had been picked up and the children were in no immediate danger.

He said: "It is the council's environment department that usually collects things such as hypodermic needles, but out of office hours we will come out.

"We would urge people not to pick them up. They should make sure they are secure until someone gets there."