DRUG addicts are still congregating under an Oxford bridge despite residents calling for the area to be zoned off for more than five year.

Since 2006, residents have campaigned for two areas under Blackbird Leys Road bridge to be made unaccessible after used needles were found there.

The areas are next to Sandy Lane recreation ground, which is popular with the estate’s children and families.

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gordon Roper said Oxford City Council street wardens had highlighted the needles as an issue and demanded action.

He said: “It’s time to sort it out once and for all.

“This has been going on for five years yet still nothing has been done.

“I don’t know exactly how many ‘sharps’ have been found down there, but if the street wardens are raising it as a problem to me, it must be a significant amount.”

In the past a range of drug paraphernalia has been found.

Among them were cans and bottles which had been used for smoking crack cocaine and tools used for breaking down heroin.

Needles and condoms were discovered found scattered across the ground.

At one point addicts using the den even installed a sofa and created a makeshift toilet from sand.

The parish council called for the area to be gated off in September 2006.

It came after a young woman, who was believed to be working the area as a prostitute, was seen sleeping rough under the bridge.

Mr Roper added: “It does not have to be expensive to sort out. All it needs is some panels to block it off. We need this sorted out, for good.”

Val Smith, a Labour city councillor for the Leys, said: “At the time I think we proposed putting some city council money into it, and the parish council coming up with the other half.

“It would have come from the area committee budgets, but they don’t exist anymore.

“It’s been so long now we need to get back down to it.

“I think we will get back to basics, find out how much it is going to cost, and really start looking at where we can find the money.”

A city council spokesman said eight used needles had been found since the beginning of January.