DEESIDE has become 'unbearable' due to the increasing drug issues across the area, a councillor has said.

Cllr Mike Evans, of Shotton East Ward, has expressed his concerns after more children found discarded drug-related litter.

During the play scheme, held at the 33 Club playing field, Shotton Lane, children had found discarded needles when they were playing near the bushes.

Cllr Evans said the children reported it to the playscheme leaders, who then reported it to Streetscene.

He said: "It's a community field for the people to feel safe and they shouldn't feel unsafe, it should be useable.

"Whether you're playing, walking your dog, having a picnic, people should feel safe.

"Kids being kids are inquisitive. I dread to think what would happen if they touched it, it's scary and worrying.

"There's just no care. I met with dog walkers the other day and people are concerned.

"People feel unsafe in not only the area but the whole of Deeside. Deeside has changed for the worst.

"I'm Deeside through and through but it's changed and the decline over the last 20 years is unbearable.

"The children go and play up there of an evening and there's no supervision, they are entitled to use it because it's their field but if they find something then, they won't have an adult to report it to."

The Leader has previously reported several issues of discarded drug related litter on the playing field.

Cllr Evans said the area has become increasingly more unsafe as one child was 'grabbed' by a man on a playing field on Tuesday, as reporter in yesterday's Leader.

North Wales Police launched an appeal after a male grabbed hold of a 10-year-old girl as she was hiding in the bushes during a game of hide and seek with friends near Edward Morgan Primary School.

He added: "It's worrying. It makes me feel sick. I grew up on that field and I'm 59 now, that was where I played when I was a kid.

"The issue has gone a lot worse. Some people want to move, they don't like what's happening around here.

"We are not a city, a city absorbed these horrible activities over the years. We are a small community so it stands out more to us.

"Especially with the rough sleepers, you see them all the time in Liverpool and Chester but when things like that happen to us, it stands out."

Cllr Evans is calling for the bushes and hedges on the field to be cut back.

He told the Leader: "I went up there yesterday to have a look and there is still items there. I had a bright orange coat on and no-one could see me. Years ago, it was just a grass area and they are now overgrown. They haven't been planted, we need to get rid of them. It's a matter of safety.

"It's that overgrown and dense any sort of unscrupulous person could hide there unseen.

"It's not typical Deeside. The majority of Deeside people are nice people who look out for each other. I want the hedges cut down, I want them gone."

A spokesman for Flintshire Council previously told the Leader that the council takes the issue of drug related litter seriously.

The spokesman added: "The council will remove discarded needles, syringes and other drug related items from adopted and council owned land upon notification, including from educational premises if they are closed.

"Similarly, if items are discovered by our various operational teams then these would be removed straight away. Any issues relating to drug related litter can be reported to the Streetscene Contact Centre on telephone number 01352 701234 or by email: streetscene@flintshire.gov.uk and subsequently a trained operative will remove the items within two hours."

Alternatively, people can contact a multi-agency initiative on the freephone number 0808 808 2276 or online at www.drugslitterline.org.uk to complete a form.