A USED syringe has been left in a public car park.

A concerned resident posted the image anonymously to a community Facebook group, showing the needle with its cap on, in the gutter at Covercroft Road car park in Droitwich.

Town councillor George Duffy said: “My personal view is that if any residents in Droitwich are struggling with addiction, I would urge them to seek help and support.

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“Any members of the pubic who finds a used needle, please report it to the police and don’t attempt to touch it.

“I don’t think there is an issue with used syringes being left in public places in the town to warrant the use of specialist needle collection bins.”

Councillor John Hartley said: “As a local councillor and resident, I think this issue absolutely abhorrent and the issue of used syringes is something police are aware of.”

A spokesman for Anna’s Fish and Chips in Colman Road, Droitwich, which overlooks the Covercroft car park, said: “ It’s disgusting leaving needles lying around.

“I find during the summer there’s more kids and young adults hanging around in that area drinking.

“I’m not worried as my customers can park right outside my shop.”

Sharon Casswell, client services manager at Wychavon District Council, said: “An operative from FCC Environment (our waste and resource management company) visited Covercroft car park in Droitwich today and could not find a used needle anywhere.

"Under normal circumstances, discarded needles and syringes will be collected within one hour.

"However, as this was not officially reported and we were not provided with an exact location, this made it difficult for us to find and remove the needle. "We ask residents not to touch or remove needles themselves but to report it to us with as much detail as possible."

We reported last year of resident, Jemma Parker, finding a bag of needles in a bush in Meadow Place, Droitwich, which is around three miles away from Covercroft Road.

Used needles can contain various blood-born diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis B, which enter the body by either sharing needles or from an accidental needle stick injury.

Anyone with such an injury should visit their nearest hospital for advice and possible treatment and the wound should be washed under running water.

Many health care workers are susceptible to needles stick injuries.