A MUM has described her shock after finding upstanding needles on swings and slides at a children's play area.

Chantelle Critchley visited Nanny Goat Park in Fingerpost on Saturday morning and was cleaning one of the swing seats when she discovered a syringe pointing upwards.

She then found a series of needles placed at the foot of slides dotted around the play area.

After Chantelle posted a warnining on the Star's Facebook page today, it was shared more than 1,000 times. 

Readers reacted with horror to the images and her description of what happened.

Chantelle wrote: "Please be careful at your local parks! This morning I took my two children to Nanny Goat Park in Fingerpost, as my son got to the swing I noticed it was all sticky so told him to go on the slide why I cleaned it with a baby wipe.

"As I went to clean it I saw this used needle that has been purposely stood up! On further inspection found four more placed around the park at the bottom of slides!"

Zoe Dyas was another park user to contact the Star.

She wrote: "Needles stuck upwards in the baby swing at Nanny Goat Park
Also covered in spit.

"Me and a few others found six to seven dirty used needles around the slide (and) on the grass."

The comments prompted an outpouring of anger on Facebook.

Baz Sacko wrote: "I'm from Fingerpost, this is disgusting I was gonna take my two over there on route to my mum's.

"I'm gobsmacked, glad you spotted this before someone got hurt or worse infected with something, this was rife in the 80s all over St Helens but never over parks and that."

Louise Duckworth wrote: "Thank you for sharing.

"My daughter goes to this park with her friends. I text her right away telling her to stay away.

"How anyone can be so cruel is beyond me.I pray no child got hurt and the disgusting,vile person is caught..."

Harold Murphy, a community leader in Fingerpost, wrote: "I am glad that you noticed the needles, I hate to think what could have happened.

"Councillor Lisa Preston has received phone calls this morning about this incident and on Monday I hope to speak to her and the police and get something sorted out.

"I want to assure everyone that our group are concerned and also disgusted a stop has got to be put on this sort of behaviour we dont want this in Fingerpost.

"I would like to express my thanks to you for bringing this to our attention and I will do all I can to help."