FIREFIGHTERS checking out street hydrants this week say they have been saddened to find many being used as places to hide cast off syringe needles.

Kidderminster station sub-officer Mick Rowlands said: "It's "a sad reflection on modern times.

"In the old days we used to find children's lolly sticks stuck in the holes of fire hydrant lids."

He said firefighters were becoming used to the hazard and were careful to avoid injury.

"We have to scoop out silt and dirt every so often and connect up to make sure they are working.

"But we have to take more care now or run the risk of contact with a rusty needle."

The firefighters test about 1,500 hydrants a year in Kidderminster but the needle hazard tends to be confined to particular areas.