A MOTHER-of-two has hit out at the drug dealers and addicts in her community after a ten-year-old boy pricked his finger on a used needle while playing football with her son outside their home.

The boys found a black plastic container with 12 needles in a bush on the corner of Melmore Gardens and Siddington Road last Thursday afternoon.

Now the 37-year-old, who lives in the neighbourhood but asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, has slammed the drug dealers, thieves and vandals who she says make life hell for the community.

She told the Standard: "The area needs to be completely cleaned up. There are some lovely families here but there are people who ruin it for everyone else.

"The boys kicked the ball in the hedge and as they were fishing it out they found the needles - my son's friend pricked his finger on what was in there.

"I was so mad because I work in a doctor's surgery. I was really, really shocked - I knew the implications of what this child would have to go through.

"He nearly passed out. He was terrified. I took him straight to his mum and she was disgusted. He had a hepatitis jab but will have to wait three months for the results."

The mother, who has lived in the area for over eight years, said she regularly sees people dealing drugs outside her house and has witnessed shocking anti-social crimes.

"They run amok," she said. "They have threatened my son and older people. They have even put excrement through people's doors.

"People are too scared to do anything - we are virtually prisoners in our homes. But it seems to me the police just turn a blind eye."

Cirencester police, however, told the Standard they are well aware of the ongoing problems and sympathise with local residents.

Senior officers also encouraged people to contact the force if they witness drug dealing to help obtain search warrants and mount operations targeting offenders.

Acting chief inspector Alastair Stenner said: "We have carried out successful drugs operations in this area, one in the recent past, and will continue to do so.

"We share the concerns of residents, but the public need to be aware that police activity is directly related to the quality and quantity of information we can gather."