An “alleyway from hell” strewn with hypodermic needles remains a terrifying threat to children - despite the alarm first being raised seven years ago.

Horrified residents claim people could be spiked and suffer serious illnesses by wandering into the Folkestone town centre drugs den near Asda.

KentOnline reported on the danger site in 2017, prompting the district council to clear up the waste, but the problem soon became more sinister.

Situated off a path where thousands walk each day, the disused subway lurks metres from the former Precious Times nursery on Cheriton Road.

When our reporter visited the site near Bouverie Shopping Centre last year, a huge sea of syringes, illicit paraphernalia and, bizarrely, children’s toys were seen strewn around.

Yet despite KentOnline immediately notifying the authorities, more than 20 needles, multiple tourniquets, and blackened tin foil were found among other drug-taking tools this week.

This year, a yellow sign has been fixed onto railings above the entrance, saying 'no pedestrian through route', with one side of the subway blocked off.

Easily accessible by a ramp, the 15 by three-meter ‘cave’ is situated next to a main road near Asda supermarket, but many residents are unaware it exists.

Anne Nelhams says she was oblivious to the extent of the disturbing mess under her feet as she often walks between the town centre and her house.

“I’ve lived in Folkestone since 1988, but I didn’t know that was being used and I don’t think a lot of people do,” she said.

“It is a worry – especially for the people who use it because it’s dirty and they need help. You need to think about it on a human level for these people – they’re not demons, they just need help.”

Telling how she believes the police and councils should clear up the squalor, she added: “It’s not very nice to know it is going on and it’s upsetting.

“It needs to be cleaned up or even closed off a bit better because the single sign isn’t going to stop anybody.

“You don’t know who’s going down there – it could be kids playing. Children are inquisitive and they want to see what’s going on and you don’t know the type of people who are using it.

“It needs to be checked on and spoken about and it’s concerning it’s been going on for seven years – it shouldn’t be happening and people need help.

“It needs to be looked at urgently because it’s obviously being used, and what’s happening to these people, are they getting help? It’s a ball of problems.”

Folkestone Town Sprucer members saw children playing in Middelburg Square car park earlier this month, which has a door leading into the passageway inside it.

The litter pickers decided to brave the dangerous mess in a bid to keep the youngsters safe, should they happen to wander into the drug den.

After initially finding the alley in 2017, last week it was discovered drugs were still being taken in the location as about 20 needles were found.

This has sparked concerns among residents that people could be injured and the problem is a never-ending cycle.

Blood-borne diseases transmitted by a needlestick injury include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

“I worry about the younger generation of today and kids picking them up,” said Janet Watts, who was visiting Folkestone from Dymchurch.

“It’s an unsafe area – it should be sealed off completely if they can’t stop the problem.

“Even if they just shut it for a few months to see how it went, but it might push the problem somewhere else – it’s something you’re never going to stop.”

John Riddle, who was also visiting the town from Dymchurch added that even if CCTV was installed in the underpass, people going down there would cover up the lenses.

“It needs to be policed,” he said.

“They need to go down there and search people who go down there – that’s the only answer really.”

Pauline Heasman, 77, agreed that nothing can be done to stop the problem but is grateful to the town sprucers for doing their bit to keep it safe as, without them, it would be much worse.

She said: “It’s galling obviously; people feel intimidated so they don’t use the underpasses, but what can be done?

“If there was an answer then surely it would have been done – but there isn’t an answer because people like that just keep coming back.

“I do litter picking in Cheriton and I do it because it gets you out, you mix with other people and feel you’re doing something for the community, but every week it is the same places with the same rubbish.

“It’s never-ending and I think things like, that are a local nuisance in any town, are never going to stop because it’s the nature of the beast.

“It could be blocked off but it’ll only drive the problem somewhere else. Why should decent people’s lives be altered for the minority, but that’s life?”

Now abandoned, the route previously formed an underpass helping pedestrians safely cross from Middleburg Square to a car park, now an Asda supermarket.

But once the walkway was blocked off almost two decades ago, it was transformed into a drug den.

Town Sprucer Peter Phillips, whose team dubbed the site “the alleyway from hell”, said on social media: “We’ve cleared the abandoned subway at Middleburg Square. Last year we said we would not due to the huge amount of needles discarded.

“But after recently monitoring the area we have seen young adults and children playing and using the car park escape door as a way in and way out.

“Today, we removed about 20 needles making it safe – for now.”

A Folkestone & Hythe District Council (FHDC) spokesperson said talks are underway to see if the den can be properly shut off.

“We are aware of the ongoing issues in the underpass and we are monitoring this area for antisocial behaviour.

“We advise residents to try and avoid using the underpass if possible and by also following the signs in place stating it is a no through route.

“Discussions are ongoing about closing the underpass and we are working with Kent County Council and the nearby car park owners.

“The underpass has to remain open currently as it is an emergency exit for the car park.

“Our waste crews attend the area weekly as part of their scheduled routes.”

A spokesperson for the police added officers are aware of reports of drugs misuse in the underpass.

They said: “Officers are working with local authorities, including FHDC, to address the issue and local patrols are ready to respond to incidents of concern.”

Jon O’Connor, Sunflower House and Town Sprucer project lead, said: “There is a good news story in here: the Town Sprucer, police and district council are working together with colleagues from Kent County Council and other agencies as part of the ‘Safer Streets’ initiative.

“This partnership is in its early stages, offering several initiatives designed to tackle community issues positively and already there are signs of this making a real difference. We’re really glad to be a part of it.

What stands out for me is the number of local people showing real common sense and concern about these problems and actually doing something themselves wherever they can to help make our town one to be proud of.

“That’s one of the things which makes Folkestone special.

“We're proud of where we live and we don’t mind rolling our sleeves up when we need to, rather than just complaining or thinking it is someone else’s job.

“Our town, our community - that’s what matters.”