THOUGHTLESS drug addicts are putting other people's lives at risk by discarding their deadly debris.

Syringes and dirty swabs are being thrown away - with no thought of the consequences.

It is daily being discovered by children in local parks, shopping centres, schools, car parks and alleyways.

The job of clearing away the rubbish in Bolton's parks is now a hazardous one for the town's rangers.

Only last month a park ranger at Tonge Cemetery stabbed himself in the hand with a used needle as he was unlocking the toilets.

The needle stuck in his hand when he tried to get hold of the lock. It appears the needle had been left in the lock as a booby trap.

The injured council worker was taken to Bolton Royal Infirmary as a precaution. He was released after blood tests and a hepatitis B booster.

Colleagues of the park ranger said he is now receiving counselling because of the shock.

One said: "We have been discovering needles on an increasing basis in our parks and cemeteries.

"There is no doubt that some have been left there deliberately for the park rangers - and even children playing in the parks - to injure themselves.

"We have found needles concealed on slides, climbing frames and packed down grids. You can't account for the sickness of some idiots these days."

Bolton's park rangers, and other council workers in various departments, have been given health and safety advice on how to protect themselves.

They have also been issued with special litter pickers and reinforced gloves.

The discarded needles they discover are placed in special boxes and then taken to the offices of the Community Drug Team.

One park ranger told the BEN: "No matter how thick the gloves you are wearing, they will never give you total protection.

"We are told not to take any risks but the danger is always there."

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