CHILDREN as young as 10 are drinking and then sleeping rough in playing fields in Nailsea, it has been revealed. Local resident Dave

CHILDREN as young as 10 are drinking and then sleeping rough in playing fields in Nailsea, it has been revealed.Local resident Dave Pearce, who is also a member of Nailsea Local Action Team (LAT), told a meeting of the group he had seen children aged as young as 10 or 12 crashed out on the Golden Valley Fields.Mr Pearce, a retired building inspector, says he has seen the children on a number of occasions while out walking his dog at 5am.Mr Pearce said: "I normally see the youngsters when the weather is good and they are sleeping out at Golden Valley fields. I have seen young children in both the small paddock next to Nowhere Wood and on the main field."They have no tent or sleeping bag - they just throw down their coat on the ground and sleep on it."Mr Pearce said he was not the only person to see the youngsters sprawled on the grass.He added: "Other dog walkers have seen young children asleep on the fields when they are out early in the mornings."I have reported the matter to police and raised the issue with the LAT, but the real questions have to be asked to the parents and whether they know what their children are doing and where they are at night."The playing fields are already a popular haunt with young people, many of whom meet there at night to drink and party into the early hours.Police upped their patrols of the area following concerns from local residents about the noisy teens and the amount of litter including broken bottles and cans, strewn across the site.Nailsea community beat manager PC Adam Clarke said: "The first and only report the police have received was at an LAT meeting."As a result of this report I have carried out patrols in the area during the times it is alleged the children have been seen."I am glad to say I have yet to find children or youths sleeping rough."However I would like to stress the importance of contacting police immediately if any children are seen in these circumstances."Anyone with information should contact me at Nailsea Police Station on 0845 4567000.