POLICE and council officials have pledged to do all they can to stop drug users discarding needles in the grounds of a primary school and church.

Children as young as eight-years-old have found syringes at St James' Church of England Primary Academy, as reported in the Daily Echo.

School Principal Jeremy Payne said daily inspections are carried out and children and parents have been warned of the risks.

And he saidhe is working with other agencies to tackle theproblem.

Kelly Ansell, head of Housing and Community Enforcement at Bournemouth council said: "We take reports of this nature very seriously and work hard with numerous departments and the police to try to help prevent inappropriate drug use in the community. We have informed the local policing team and our outreach workers of this situation."

A spokesman for Dorset Police added: "We have been made aware of this and we would like to reassure the community that the Neighbourhood Policing Team is proactively working with the school and local authority to tackle the issue. We have stepped up patrols and will deal with anyone committing drug offences or anti-social behaviour robustly.

"We would ask anyone who has concerns or further information about anti-social behaviour or drug use in their area to please contact the local Neighbourhood Policing Team or Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101.