A HORRIFIED mother has spoken of her "disgust" at finding needles, some of which were upturned, at a children's play area.

On Saturday morning Chantelle Critchley made her daily visit to Nanny Goat Park with two-year-old son Keane, one-year-old daughter Daisy and their dad Liam.

But after wiping one of the swings clean she was shocked to spot an upturned needle on the swing. Another four needles were also discovered, lying at the bottom of slides and next to the swings.

"We just went to the park at about 9.30 in the morning. I went to the swing and my son said it's full of stickiness and I went to give it a wipe and saw the needle," said Chantelle, 22.

"I thought there must be more and we saw five in total including underneath the baby swings, at the foot of a slide and also the bigger slide.

"The one on the swing looked like a melted ice pop standing up. I don't think a drug user would be able to think like that.

"Normally I don't even look, I just put the baby on the swing but it was only because it was sticky that I was alerted to it. Thankfully none of us were pricked.

"It's not going to put me off going to the park, I just want people to be more vigilant.

"It's been put there purposefully and that is a disgusting thing. You're not going to stop drug use but people need to be more vigilant," added Chantelle, who lives in Fingerpost.

Following the discovery of the needles, St Helens Council says it has placed staff on high alert and instructed park rangers, cleaners and grounds maintenance teams to remain extra vigilant as they go about their duties in parks across the borough. The authority is also urging all park users, especially those visiting play areas, to check equipment before allowing children to use it.

Cabinet member for transport, housing and community safety, Cllr Richard McCauley said: “This was an horrific incident and I shudder to think what the potential consequences could have been. We are working with the police to apprehend those responsible but in the meantime everyone should take great care – and check play equipment before using it.”

Town centre ward councillor Lisa Preston added: "I have had a few calls from a few of the residents about this and notified the council. They are to do they need to do and we are on to it and hopefully find out who has done this.

"It is an issue that's getting worse all round with the amount of drug activity."

The council says it is working with Merseyside Police to find those responsible.

Town centre neighbourhood inspector Dave Brennan added: "This is a worrying incident and it is only due to the vigilance of members of the public that nobody is believed to have been hurt by the needles. They appear to have been deliberately pushed into a swing and left near the slide.

"This is very dangerous and whoever has done this clearly has no concern for the safety of children who may be playing in the area.

"Fortunately the mother of a child spotted the needle on the swing before a child could use it, but other children playing may not have been aware of what they could have found.

"We are taking this seriously and doing all we can to trace whoever is responsible. At this stage it appears to be an isolated incident in the town and there have been no further reports of any similar incidents in St Helens. Clearly this is very concerning and I would urge the public to be vigilant and report any similar incidents to police immediately."