Sutton Bridge under-age drinkers blamed for planting broken glass in a children's play park

Under-age drinkers are being blamed for breaking booze bottles and sticking glass in the ground - jagged edge upwards - in a children's play area at Sutton Bridge.

The revelation comes after a young boy had glass stuck in his hand when he fell near swings in Memorial Park.

His grandparent emailed the parish council saying: "He spent five hours in A&E last night where he had to have gas and air to get it out."

Parish clerk Robert Smith said an inspection took place shortly after the email was received and no broken glass was found in the play area, although unbroken bottles were found in the park.

In his reply to the grandparent, Mr Smith reveals daytime drinkers - "some of a worrying young age" - are littering the park with bottles and cans.

Until recently, the children's play area had largely been spared but bottles are now being thrown over the fence and deliberately broken against trees or equipment.

Coun Terry York said his wife found the broken top and bottom of a glass bottle in the play area - both planted in the ground, jagged edge upwards.

Mr Smith told Tuesday's meeting: "It's a difficult issue to deal with when you have people who don't seem to care who is injured and seem to deliberately want to put children in harm's way."

The parish council has alerted the district council anti-social behaviour team who, as well as working with the police, are being asked to step up community warden patrols. The parish litter picker will also clear glass from the park as a priority.

Teenagers are alleged to be buying lager and vodka in the village and that will be reported to the district council licensing committee.

* Anti-social behaviour and drug use has been a long running concern in Memorial Park, which sits behind the Curlew Centre on Bridge Road.