It's needle-ss

Cherwell District Council street wardens say they find on average between 15 and 20 needles per week.

Problem areas include near Glory Farm Primary School and Bure Park Primary School, Bure Park's playing field in Hudson Street and the park and playing field areas in Manston Close, Villiers Road and George Street.

Wardens Trevor Lewis, Clare Playford, Julie South and Tim Davies, who patrol the town for drug paraphernalia and needles, as well as graffiti, dog fouling, litter and speeding vehicles, said other problem areas include bushes and garage blocks in Winterbourne Close, Ray Road and Glory Farm.

Mr Davies said: "The worrying thing is that they are being discarded openly, near parks and schools.

"Unfortunately the problem is not confined to one particular area."

But he added: "We feel, with daily patrols from the street wardens, the problem is getting better and the people who are misusing are aware there is a presence on the street now to deter them."

Bure Park headteacher Robert Pearsoncorr said: "On occasions children have made us aware of hypodermic syringes that they have found around the edge of the school.

"We don't encourage children to pick them up. We ring the council and they come and deal with it."

During the past year, the wardens have been working in partnership with Thames Valley Police, Charter Housing, Bicester Town Council and the Neighbourhood Action Group, to clean up Bicester.

Pc Richie Iwanoff said patrols had been increased to deter further drug activity.

Cherwell District Council executive member George Reynolds said: "It only takes a few individuals to spoil it for everybody."

Glory Farm headteacher Paul Ducker said: "Fortunately we have few incidents where we have found hypodermic needles that have just been thrown away.

"Maybe this is because our school is quite open, and therefore there are not so many nooks and crannies to hide behind."

Residents can report needles they find to the wardens on 01869 325860.