FAMILIES have raised their concerns about drug users are spoiling one of Canvey’s beauty spots.

Islanders contacted councillors to report syringes dumped around the lake and demand a clampdown on the problem.

It comes as the Echo reported just last week how bikers have returned to wreak havoc around the lake and other parts of Canvey.

Peter Greig, chairman of the town council, says the authority has been made aware of the issue and will do all it can to stop the problem.

Mr Greig added that he believes drug users operate at night, making it difficult for the offenders to be caught and prosecuted under town council bylaws – introduced earlier this year.

He said: “It’s a worry when you have this kind of thing going on, and we obviously discourage any behaviour of this kind.

“The problem is catching the drug users who have been leaving their stuff about.

"They seem to be doing their thing in the cover of darkness, and unless we physically catch them, there’s not a lot we can do.

“Adele our community warden is very active when she does her rounds during the day and I know she has worked very hard to stop anti-social behaviour.

“There’s also a very good Lake Watch group who are doing their bit to help too.”

He added: “We introduced the bylaws and they do have the power to hopefully put a stop to this, but only up to a point."

John Anderson, chairman of the town council’s open spaces committee, said it has invested a lot of time, money and effort to make the lake pleasant for families.

He said: “The problem seems to be in one specific area which is near to the car park and it’s such a shame a few people are spoiling it for the rest.

“We took out some large trees which was where the drug users seemed to get together and I think opening it up has helped.

“It’s very difficult as the other issues is that people are able to move in and out of the lake very easily and that’s where the trouble with bikers comes into it as well.

“Since we took over the running of the lake several years ago, the area has improved a lot and we’ve been able to hold nice community events there.”