A MOTHER who jabbed herself on a discarded syringe is considering taking Worcester City Council to court for negligence.

Donna Hawker faces six months of repeat vaccinations and booster injections after accidentally touching the syringe tossed into her back garden from an alley next to her home.

She also has an anxious wait to see if the treatment will prevent her contracting hepatitis.

She and her partner, Robert Evans, claim the council has breached its duty of care by failing to replace a deteriorating fence, despite complaints.

The council has made some repairs at the home in Rydal Close, Warndon, but has no plans to replace the 40ft-long stretch.

The couple were gardening last Sunday when Miss Hawker brushed the syringe, discarded behind a bush, with her hand.

"When we arrived at casualty, it hit me like a brick - what was in the needle and what I could catch," she said.

The 28-year-old was given the all-clear over the possibility of contracting HIV, but doctors are concerned she could contract hepatitis B, an acute liver infection.

Since then, the couple have stopped their 18-month daughter, Sophie, and neighbours' children playing in their back garden.

Retail manager Mr Evans, aged 31, fumed: "It was bad enough what Donna's been through - if it had been Sophie or one of the neighbours' kids...."

He was also angry that the fence has been patched up, rather than replaced with a higher one.

"We've had glass, cans and rubbish thrown over and pushed through the fence, but this is the last straw."

City council housing manager Iain Harkess said: "We have carried out an inspection and repairs to the fence.

"At this moment, there are no plans to replace the fence in total."

Principal environmental health officer Martin Gillies said the number of complaints of discarded syringes had risen from 13, in 1995, to 72 during the past year.

Worcester MP Mike Foster, who visited the couple yesterday, said he would write to the council.

"I'll be suggesting that the way the fence is positioned allows things to be pushed through the gap and lets people stand on the ledge," he said.

"The council has also thrown up questions over its budget, but that's something it will have to address."