Staff at a children's play centre have been advised to carry out daily searches for drugs hidden in foliage in its grounds.

Police advised workers at Fairfield Play Centre, for four to 12-year-olds, to check in case addicts and dealers left drugs on their site.

They have been also told to keep their bushes and plants pruned to deny them hiding places.

The council facility in Camden Town is located in an area well-known for its drug trade.

There have been reports of dealers and addicts reaching through the railings at the centre and hiding their drugs on a ledge. A spokeswoman for Camden council said it was aware of the drug issue and was taking action to ensure children using the centre were kept safe.

She said: "We carry out daily site checks before the children come in. For a year, following police advice, staff at Fairfield have been enhancing these daily checks by cutting back plants and clearing areas where items could be hidden. There are no immediate safety issues."

She said the council and police had deployed 18 extra community support officers to tackle Camden's "aggressive drugs market".

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