RESIDENTS have blasted drug users for leaving their syringes in a Padiham cemetery.

Dog walkers and parents said used and clean needles have become a regular sight at St John’s Cemetery, and warned people to take care.

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It comes as seven-year-old Addisyn Denton faces an anxious wait for the results of an HIV test after pricking his finger on a syringe in Colne.

The incident has now sparked concern among neighbours of the cemetery off St John’s Road, Padiham, after an increasing number of needles have been found in the council-run graveyard in recent weeks.

Mark Rowland, 48, who lives in nearby Hapton Road, said: “I’ve found a bag of needles and citric acid which was stuffed in a tree, and my wife saw an old handbag full of needles. Another time we just saw one lying on the ground, as well as bottles of alcohol strewn about.

"It seems to have been going on for about six weeks and a lot of people are worried about it. It’s a nice, quiet place to walk, but this is ruining it because you are having to watch out for these needles all the time. Children use it as well, but it’s not ideal when it’s being used as a drugs den.”

Several others have also raised the issue on the Facebook page Padiham Community Talk.

Jean Cunningham, a ward councillor, said: “The first thing to do when you find a used needle is report it to the parks department at Burnley Council, and they have people who can walk round and collect them up. But this is really worrying and I’m going to look into it.”

Father Swift, at the neighbouring St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, said: “The cemetery is run by Burnley Council but we are obviously concerned about needles being found there. Cemeteries used to be locked up at night but with all the cuts that have happened I don’t think councils can do that anymore.”

The ward police officers were not available for comment over the weekend, but have made tackling anti-social behaviour in the Hapton Road area one of their priorities.