East Bowling's bobby on the beat is rallying his community to clean up a "hazardous" drugs den.

PC Mick Fawbert stepped in after a young boy suffered a puncture wound to his foot on a rusty nail at the abandoned garage and was taken to hospital.

The site has become a well-used fly tipping spot and nearby residents believe it is being used as a hang-out where youths are taking drugs and drinking alcohol.

They claim to have found a plastic bag full of unmarked tablets, a number of needles and even a seven-inch bread knife lying around.

The garage is in an alleyway behind a row of homes on Rayleigh Street, and is next to a popular children's playspot.

PC Fawbert, community officer for East Bowling, said: "This area is a hazard particularly to the children who play nearby.

"A young lad was injured here recently and there is a strong belief that drugs are being left lying around."

Debbie Blamires, the mother of two young children, lives next to the site. She said she was stunned when her seven-year-old son walked into her home carrying the bread knife he had found among the debris.

"It is a death trap. We have found needles, tablets and all sorts out there," she said.

PC Fawbert has tracked down the owners of the site and got their permission for the clean-up.

He plans to dismantle the garage, clean up the surrounding land and hopes the site will be replaced by a playground if funding can be found.

East Bowling community group Youth Base has also been asked to get involved in the project.

Rupert Oliver, of the East Bowling Regeneration Organ-isation, said: "There is a lot of support for this and there has been no shortage of volunteers."