MOTHERS have hit out at drug users who discard needles in a communal garden used by children.

Neighbours of the garden, in Joiner's Court, off Pegasus Road, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, said they were disgusted at the addicts, who have been leaving used syringes in the garden for the past six months.

Esme Lamont and friend Emma Kelly discovered three syringes while playing football with Ms Lamont's son, Jamie, two, in the garden on Sunday.

When Ms Kelly went to fetch the ball, she spotted an uncapped needle on the grass within feet of where they had been playing.

Ms Lamont then found two more needles - one of which had been stabbed into the grass next to the garden's main entrance.

Neighbours have since told her needles have been continually left in the communal garden, which is shared by people living in Catalyst Housing association flats, since last summer.

Ms Lamont, 20, said: "I think it's disgusting. I got Jamie in and rang the housing association straight away. I was really worried.

"I went round and told everyone in the flats with kids not to let them down there.

"They told me they had reported it a few times already. The other neighbours with children were all a bit upset."

Ms Lamont added: "It's horrible. I feel like I can't take Jamie down into the garden, because people have got no respect.

"My friend fell and she could have easily fallen on one of them. My son could have easily picked one up.

"It's scary. We could have gone down there and seen them do it.

"I don't care if they do it, as long as it's not around my son. They should do it in their own homes."

Ms Kelly, 22, from Barton Lane, Headington, said: "I was just disgusted at the fact they leave their needles everywhere and don't care.

"There is a trampoline in the garden and they can see children's toys there, yet they still leave their needles there."

Ms Lamont's neighbour, Maria Cross, a mother-of-one, said: "I'm angry about this. It's got progressively worse since last summer, to the point where the cleaner is coming in with gloves and a box to put the needles in, because he expects to find them."

Catalyst Housing Group would not comment.

Last year, we reported drug dealers were selling crack cocaine and heroin in a car park, which backs on to Blackbird Leys park, which also adjoins Ms Lamont's block of flats.