DRUG dealers have taken over a park with discarded needles putting children and animals in danger.

Residents are furious more is not being done to combat those making life miserable in Cambridge Square Gardens, off Cambridge Road, Westcliff.

Issues include loud, drunken behaviour in the park, particularly at night, as well as drug selling and use and abandoned drug paraphernalia including needles.

Prospective Labour MP Ashley Dalton, candidate for Rochford and Southend East, said she has had various reports from angry residents about a need to tackle underlying causes for drug use at the park.

Ms Dalton said: “There is a serious problem with anti-social behaviour that threatens the safety and profitability of the conservation area.

“People have welcomed the increased police presence on the high street, but we’re concerned at the level to which the anti-social behaviour was being pushed from the high street into the conservation area.

“Policing is a vital part of the response but we cannot simply keep moving the problem around. To truly tackle it, we must address the underlying cause, and that cause is Tory austerity.

“Unsustainable central government cuts are affecting services such as drug and alcohol dependency support, and the shambles of universal credit has pulled the rug out from under the feet of our community’s most vulnerable people.

“Their desperation is manifesting in disruptive and dangerous behaviour. That in turn is threatening vital leisure footfall in the economic centre of our town.

“When our most vulnerable people suffer, the whole community’s safety and prosperity is at risk.”

Tory councillor Jonathan Garston said: “I am aware of the concerns and we are working with different agencies to help deal with this and improve the quality of life of residents living nearby.

“This has been going on since the early summer.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “If anyone is suffering from crime or anti-social behaviour they should report it to us so we can do our best to help.

“In an emergency call 999 or if not you can report online to us at www.essex.police.uk/doitonline or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”