A DOCUMENTARY-maker keen to clean up Darlington was shocked by the number of discarded needles discovered in ‘drugs dens’ along what will soon be part of a heritage trail.

Teesside University student Macauley Macdonald is currently producing a documentary about Darlington’s litter pick hero Pete Woodmansey.

He has organised numerous community litter picks to bolster Mr Woodmansey’s street cleaning efforts and their latest took place along the River Skerne footpath behind North Road – an area soon to become part of a cycling heritage trail under council plans.

However, Mr Macdonald said the ten-strong group were horrified by the amount of discarded needles they found.

These were safely disposed of by Sparta Security boss Francis Jones and his staff who took part in the litter pick.

Mr Macdonald said: “It is a public footpath but there are bits of openings in the fences where people shouldn’t be going, but people still do and they’re clearly taking drugs in these dens.”

He added: “We do want to bring attention to this and ask questions of the authorities.

“Like ‘do you think it would be better if drug users had some place to go?’

“Either way people are going to go out and do it (take drugs) and it would be much nicer if they had somewhere to go instead of hopping over fences and doing it in places where people walk their dogs.”

The area cleared by Mr Macdonald and the volunteers is soon to become part of a heritage trail billed as a key piece of the town’s cycle network.

It will run underneath the 1825 Skerne Bridge designed by Ignatius Bonomi – known as the £5 bridge – and Mr Macdonald said the area needs to be shown more respect.

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said: “It is always encouraging to hear about residents organising volunteer litter picks, so we’d like to acknowledge this group of people for taking pride in their community.

“However, we strongly encourage anyone who finds needles, or any other items they suspect to be used for drug-taking, to report this to the council, either via www.darlington.gov.uk/reportit or by calling 01325 405111.”

To organise a litter pick, visit darlington.gov.uk/litterpick for advice and support.