COUNCILLORS said they will "win the war on drugs" following alarming discoveries of drug paraphernalia near children’s play areas in Deeside.

Cllr Bernie Attridge said he is “confident” that Insp Andy Griffiths, North Flintshire policing team of North Wales Police, will clamp down on the use of drugs in Connah’s Quay, Shotton, Buckley and Queensferry.

The deputy leader of Flintshire Council said: "Speaking generally about the Deeside area, there is an issue with syringes, and we need to be informing the authorities when paraphernalia is found, to stop children discovering it."

A Connah's Quay mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, is urging parents to be vigilant of drug misuse after she discovered used needles and paraphernalia in Hillside field.

She said: "A lot of people use the area, from kids to dog walkers, and they should be able to do that without the worry.

"I don’t let my kids go up there, despite the fact that other children do, because it’s too dangerous. It’s a different era now and whenever my kids go out I’m instantly panicking - that’s not right.

"I was absolutely disgusted, and I won’t be going that way again. I can’t risk the danger.

"I would tell parents to always make sure they know where their kids are and try and educate them about the dangers of the needles, its bad that we have to do that now but this is what it’s come to."

She said it should be a requirement in schools, instead of sugar coating the issue, because anything can happen, adding: "People just need to be aware of what’s going on and the dangers these people are leaving behind.

"As disgusting and wrong as it is, we need to educate kids on the dangers and make them aware."

Cllr Paul Shotton has taken it upon himself and other volunteers to conduct a litter-pick in the area, tackling the well-known spots of drug use.

The Golftyn councillor said: "On our litter-pick, we did make our way to the Rock area and we did find drug paraphernalia. We intend to cut back on people using drugs, and deter people from gathering in little dens in an area where we recently upgraded the play area.

"It is only by taking that control of areas that we can stop this. These areas in Deeside are not 'no go' areas, they need to be used and they're there for all the community.

"Things are being done and I agree with Cllr Attridge that we will win the war on drugs. A number of drug busts have been done and I am pleased the police are being proactive.

"Drug use is in decline in recent months, which shows our actions are working. But we won't rest on our laurels and we certainly intend to do extra litter picks in Golftyn."

Cllr Shotton added that work will be done with schools to "take the message home" about drug misuse and its dangers because "that's where it all starts."

Cllr Andy Dunbobbin is also calling for more "empowerment" for people to report drug use to the authorities.

Cllr Dunbobbin for Golftyn said: "Unless we come together as a community nothing will get done, we need to battle it together.

"I’ve recently conducted a survey about crime and drugs and from memory, about 70 per cent of people said they are seeing crimes but not reporting it and one of the comments said ‘I’m not a grass’.

"We’ve got to create that empowerment to give people the confidence to come forward and I’m all for that. We’ve all got to work together."

Chair of Shotton Town Council, Cllr Garry Cooper, said: "It’s a worry for the county and I am appalled. Drug takers know what damage used needles can do and it causes so many problems.

"We tell individuals not to pick them up themselves, instead always wait for officials to clean the area.

"Flintshire Council have a 24-hour helpline so reports can be dealt with immediately and Shotton Council has organised a meeting with the police to keep us informed with what is going on."

Steve Jones, chief officer Streetscene and Transportation said: "The council has always responded to incidents of discarded drug paraphernalia on public land. The response can be accessed through the Streetscene Contact Centre with any calls diverted to an out of hours answering service during out of office hours periods."

Contact Streetscene on 01352701234 or emailing streetscene@flintshire.gov.uk.