Hucknall mum pleads for people to think more after discarded needle found on pavement

Denise Williams says her partner found the needle close to their home on Beardsmore Grove and was able to safely pick it up and dispose of it.

But she says she shudders to think what could have happened had one of the young children than live on the road found the needle instead.

She said: “This isn’t a regular thing by any means but I’m still very worried it happened at all.

"We live in a cul-de-sac so children from neighbouring streets come and play with children on our street and it was on the pavement at end of our road.

"I’ve got a seven-year-old and I’m not convinced they would have know what it was and not picked it up.”

Fears of discarded needles around Hucknall communal areas have been highlighted in recent weeks after a batch was found on the floor near the children’s play area in Titchfield Park in March.

Denise continued: "I know people have issues and can choose to what they please but if they’re going to use needles, please at least dispose of them properly.

"There’s plenty of wheelie bins out at the front of houses around here and they could have dumped it in one them.

"That would have been far better than just leaving it on the street.

"We never used to see anything like this and now it seems to be happening regularly.

"I don’t think you can blame the authorities or anything like that, it’s the individuals that are to blame and I wish they could be a bit more considerate of others.

A spokesman for Ashfield District Council said: “The council will respond as soon as possible to reports of needles or sharps left in public areas and will ensure the safe removal of them.

“If you suspect drug activity is taking place in a specific area, we ask that this is reported promptly to Nottinghamshire Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency or if a crime is in progress.”