A Hereford dad who found drug paraphernalia at a city skate park was so concerned that he is prepared to offer his services to help clean-up his home city.

Stephen Skyrme photographed the unpleasant discovery and brought the picture in after he spotted an article featuring a discarded syringe in Castle Green in the Hereford Times on January 23.

While out walking with his dogs near Whitecross skate-park, Mr Skyrme wondered what they were doing in the bushes and on closer inspection he was shocked to find the needles.

He had his camera with him intending to take a picture of his dogs so he put it to good use and recorded the ugly scene.

"They are the only ones I have ever found up there - I don't particularly go looking. The only other time I went back in there was to see if they had been cleared up," said Mr Skyrme.

Acknowledging that the council are 'up against it' controlling litter and dog fouling, Mr Skyrme reinforced his worries when he said youngsters often play on the exercise apparatus and his own step children walk the family dogs there.

He explained that if the council supplied him with a special kit he would be prepared to give up a Saturday to help rid the park of needles.

During a more recent visit to the same place Mr Skyrme found another needle with an exposed point which he carefully removed and took home in a bottle.

A call to Herefordshire Council prompted them to send an employee down immediately to collect the 'sharp' and they said they would gladly supply equipment to residents prepared to take part in a clean-up.