COUNCIL chiefs have issued a warning over the increasing number of discarded needles dumped by drug users in Worcester.

Council staff were called out by members of the public to deal with more than 60 incidents last year where needles were found lying around.

"The problem is escalating," said Mike Harrison, director of the city council's operational services.

"They stick them in all sorts of places. A lot of gardeners find them when they are weeding their shrub beds."

He said one of the reasons for closing some of the city centre toilets overnight was because illegal drug users were gathering in them to inject themselves.

"We find a lot in public toilets and when we went into the toilets that were open overnight we never knew what we would find," he added.

"That is one of the reasons why they are closed at 7pm now."

Mr Harrison blamed the problem on unregistered drug users who might not be aware of what they were doing when they discarded needles.

He said they looked for the easiest way of dumping them - which could be in household waste bags put out overnight for collection.

And he warned people to take extra care when handling rubbish bags that were left out overnight.

"We're asking people to be generally wary all the time. If people find needles in the street, they shouldn't touch them," Mr Harrison added.

He said there had been cases where refuse collection staff had been hurt.

"We don't know what is in these needles and the period when a person is undergoing tests is a very worrying time," said Mr Harrison, who confirmed none of those injured had suffered serious ill effects.

Anyone who finds a discarded needle should contact Worcester City Council environmental health department on 01905 722213/4 or the city council emergency number on 01905 22671 out of office hours.