A MOTHER was left shocked to find drug paraphernalia scattered across a baby changing table at a public toilet.

Lauren Rozier visited the facilities at Cliff Park, off Dovercourt High Street, to change her 20-month-old daughter Isabella.

The toddler had been playing with her mum at the neighbouring children’s play park.

Mrs Rozier, 30, from Harwich, was shocked to find a penknife, a spoon, rolling papers and cigarette butts on the changing table.

She said: “Most of the toilets were locked and there are signs saying they are currently out of use. The only one that was open was the one for baby changing.

“As soon as I went in I could see the baby changing table was down and all the drugs paraphernalia was on it.

“It is bad enough seeing it at all, but it was not nice to see it on a changing table that is used for babies.

“We often use the park and have never seen anything like this before. When I got back from the park I called the police and they said they would send someone.

“It is disrespectful and it is concerning – children do use those toilets.”

Chief Insp Russ Cole called on residents to report any information they have about drug taking and dealing to the police.

“It is concerned they have used a toilet that was specifically adapted for baby changing,” he said.

“We will continue to work closely with Tendring Council and cleaners to identify trends and will work with our partners at the charity Open Road, which runs a needle exchange, to see if there is more we can do to design out this problem.

“We want drug paraphernalia kept off the streets. We are progressing with making arrests and conducting warrants, but we do request local knowledge from the public in relation to the possession and supply drugs.”