An overgrown garden behind a bank in Oswestry town centre is being used by drug users in broad daylight, it has been claimed by businesses who overlook the site.Now there are concerns that if children go across the wall from the neighbouring Cae Glas Park to retrieve a ball, they could fall on dirty needles in the garden behind Church Street.

Phil Beaumont, whose recording studio is in the area, said he and a chef from a nearby restaurant were amazed to see drug taking in the overgrown garden, which is also behind the Lloyds TSB bank, yesterday morning.

Police were called and took away used needles.

“The garden has been known as a drugs den for a long time but things have got worse recently,” Mr Beaumont said.

“My real worry is that if children playing in the park kick a ball over the wall then climb over to get it, they could be in serious danger of getting infected from dirty needles.

“It is not a police problem or a problem for the town council, which looks after the park. It is up to Lloyds Bank to sort out the problem and stop these people getting into the garden.”

A spokeswoman for Lloyd TSB Bank said today that staff yesterday called police.

She said: “We take this matter very seriously and we have arranged for members of our property team to have a look at what can be done to prevent this.

“We are aware there is an issue there and we are doing what we can to address it.”

Councillor Martin Bennett, chairman of the Cae Glas Trust, said they would also be looking into the matter.