Father-of-three Steven Hinton, of Langdale Drive, Warndon, was so concerned he took his son, Stephen-Lee straight to their doctor for examination.

He is now calling on the council to clean up the health hazard, which has been left to rot just below the door of his flat.

"The pile of rubbish was left behind by a neighbour who moved out," said 32-year-old Mr Hinton, who works as a forklift truck driver.

'Clean it up' demand

"It had been there for a few days so I rang the council asking them to clean it up as it was blocking the stairs.

"They told me to put it in black bin liners and it would then be collected.

"I started bagging up the rubbish when I nipped into the flat to get some more bin liners when Stephen-Lee, who was helping me, followed me in carrying 10 used needles.

"He had picked them up thinking they were pens, but I was horrified and shouted at him to put them down.

"We took him to the doctors where he was checked and luckily none of the needles had cut him.

"I then contacted the environmental health officers at the city council, but they told me to ring the police. They told me there was nothing they could do.

"I am disgusted that the rubbish is still blocking up the stairs and I want it removed as soon as possible before another child picks up something dangerous."

Bruce Mourby, manager of the city council's Warndon office, promised the council would act after the Evening News revealed needles had been found stashed in the rubbish.

"As sharps have been found, we have instructed our operational forces to move them as soon as possible," he said.

A police spokeswoman said: "If we had a police vehicle in the area with a sharps box we would obviously assist."

"But, if this is not the case, we would ask environmental health to oblige. In this particular case the hypodermic needles were in the hands of a responsible adult and not still in the possession of a child".