UNDERAGE drinkers who consume alcohol in a Bewdley play area are putting children's safety at risk, it has been claimed.

Paul Gittins, Labour town councillor, is calling for new measures to deter youths from using Shaw Hedge Road play area.

The youngsters gather in the park shelter at weekends leaving empty beer cans and broken vodka bottles littered across the play area, according to the councillor.

He added the problem was causing concern among neighbours.

The site, owned by Wyre Forest Community Housing Group, is next to Bewdley Primary School and Mr Gittins believes the young drinkers are throwing empty bottles into the school grounds.

He said: "My main concern is that the park is a play area for children and all play areas in Bewdley are alcohol restriction zones.

"The youths are throwing cans around and their language is terrible.

"I believe they are aged 14 or 15. They stay in the park until the early hours of the morning. The park is covered in broken glass.

"It is a health and safety issue and a nuisance to the neighbours. If smaller children fall onto the glass they could get hurt."

He added: "I want to see CCTV cameras in place. I would like to see a higher fence around the play area to make it difficult for them to enter the grounds. The gates should be locked at night with a sign to say the park's shut.

"If people are in there, they will be trespassing.

"When the police come they jump over the fence and disappear. It is a nightmare.

"Parents are afraid to bring their kids to the park because of the bad language. It is a lovely little park. It is a shame because it is just a few people who are spoiling it for the rest."

Fiona Law, housing group spokeswoman, told the Shuttle/Times & News: "When we first heard that residents were worried about youths drinking in the play area, our neighbourhood wardens worked closely with the police and made regular patrols to assess the situation.

"This appears to have had a positive effect as there have been no further reports of youths or signs of alcohol being consumed there.

"We will continue to monitor the play area as part of our routine inspections."