A MUM said she was ‘shocked and disgusted’ to have discovered drug paraphernalia while with her children in a Furness park.
Robin Howarth, a mum of two, was with her partner and children at the Dalton Leisure Centre Park in Chapel Street when her 18-month-old son stumbled across some litter.
Among the items was an empty yellow bottle marked ‘super strength’, thought to be alkyl nitrites - more commonly known as 'poppers'.
Poppers are a liquid chemical inhaled that dilate blood vessels to allow more blood to reach the heart.
The substance is said to be potentially fatal for anyone who swallows it.
Miss Howarth, 27, who lives in Fell Croft said: “We were shocked at disgusted by what we saw.
“My son was going through the things he found in the park and looking like he was going to put things in his mouth.
“One of the things he found was a bottle that looked like something that could be dangerous.
“My partner took it away from him. When we got home and researched what it was we found it was poppers.
“I don’t know what would have happened if he put it in his mouth.
“It could have been really harmful.”
Miss Howarth said she had grown up living opposite the park and was aware of teenagers being anti-social in the space.
“We saw some plastic bags that were the kind you would put powder in.
“They were probably ones you would put drugs in.”
She issued a warning to other parents to stop their children finding themselves in a similar situation.
She said: “I want to tell people to keep an eye.
“We have very young children so we always keep a close on everything they are doing when we are out.
“But parents with older children need to know that they could find something like that if they don’t look after them carefully.”
Cumbria police urged anyone with information or concerns about goings on in their community to contact them directly on 101.
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