A TERRIFIED Gwent mother found a bin-liner filled with used syringes and drug paraphernalia while clearing out her attic.

Kelly Evans, 21, made the frightening discovery in the attic of her home in Peny-garn, Pontypool, last week.

It was the first time she had been into the loft since moving into her rented council house in October.

Miss Evans said she was terrified that her two young children Ieuan Barnby, aged two, and Rebecca Barnby, one, could have found needles in other parts of the house.

"When we arrived the house was in a right state. I thought I had cleaned it right up but now I'm not so sure. Who knows what could be hidden around the place now? I can't bear to think what could have happened if the children found needles and grabbed hold of them," she said.

"They are too young to know what they are and how dangerous it could be. I felt really sick when I found them. I've only just finished decorating the house and making it nice for us, but now I feel like ripping it all down and moving out."

After finding a syringe on the floor of the loft on Tuesday, Miss Evans called Pontypool police.

PC Simon Roman visited the house to investigate and found the bin-liner.

It was later picked up by environmental health officers from Torfaen council and found to contain up to 30 syringes, one which still had blood on.

The bag also contained an empty box of diazepam, tissues and bandages with blood on, Stanley knife blades and pornographic pictures.

PC Roman said: "We investigated the attic because we were concerned for the safety of the two young children in the house. There is nothing to suggest this was anything to do with the previous tenants who moved out in October. We don't know how long these have been in the attic."

A spokesman for Torfaen council said: "The property was left in a very poor condition after it was abandoned by the previous tenant. In this instance before any inspection was carried out an order was made for it to be cleaned and cleared due to the condition of the property."