Angry Brighton parents have condemned drug users for shooting up at a children's centre.

Brighton and Hove City Council wants to build a two metre fence around Tarner Children's Centre, which holds regular sessions for pre-school children, to keep out drug-using trespassers.

Centre staff have had to call in cleaning staff to clear away rubbish dumped at the centre - including a discarded sofa and syringes.

It is hoped that building the metal fence between the children's centre and its car park will stop trespassers and alleviate parent and staff concerns about the safety of the children at the centre.

Drug users have been using the shade offered by a flint wall at the side of the council-owned centre in Ivory Place in Brighton to shoot up in the bad weather.

No children, parents or staff have been injured by the syringes or other waste.

Yesterday angry parents told The Argus that they were disgusted that drug users would choose the clearly signposted children's centre to feed their habit.

Expectant mother Laura Wigg, 26, said: “I think it's disgusting, they should not be doing it here, they should be doing it in their own homes.

“I have the same problem in my block of flats where we have a lot of families living and we have druggies hanging around the stairs.

“My daughter has seen needles and said 'what's that?' and I say 'get away from that, don't go anywhere near it'.

“It's sad you can't keep anything from kids nowadays.”

Another mother who did not wish to be named said: “I can't imagine why they would want to do it here.

“They are not really thinking.

“I don't think they are out to get the kids, it's just that they are thoughtless.

“They are addicted and just do it anywhere.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “We are vigilant about maintaining our children's centre buildings and will take action when issues arise.

“Staff at Tarner Children's Centre reported items being discarded behind the building out of office hours.

“Children and families visiting the centre do not use this part of the building but the emergency exit leads out to this area.”

A decision on the fencing is due to be made by Brighton and Hove City Council's planning committee in April and the work will be subject to permission and funding.