A POPULAR park has become a playground for drug dealing and is now unsafe for dog walkers, councillors have claimed.

Northlands Park in Pitsea has become a hotspot for crime amid growing concerns surrounding dog snatching, Tory councillor Craig Rimmer revealed.

The park has seen a spike in youths attempting to steal dogs from their owners in England’s third national lockdown, and Mr Rimmer has even told his mum not to walk her new dog in the park.

This follows a stabbing last week on Ashlyns, which saw an attempted murder probe launched.

Two teenagers have since been released under investigation.

Councillor Rimmer, said: “We were promised park wardens in 2019, but nothing has materialised. They would make a World of difference.

“I don’t think CCTV would work, the park is too big.

“The park is pretty safe during the day, but at night it’s a different story. It can be very intimidating in there.

“The bushes allow people to lurk in the shadows. That’s where a lot of the drug dealing occurs.

“It’s become a hotspot for that. Dog snatching is now a problem too. I’ve told my mum not to walk her dog in there.”

The targeted stabbing on Wednesday saw a man left with serious injuries following the attack.

A 16-year-old from Basildon was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and a 19-year-old from Benfleet was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.