Refuse collectors are demanding better protection from discarded needles and syringes after finding them in household waste.

They found the needles in rubbish at a block of flats off Upper Lewes Road in Brighton.

Dustmen had refused to clear rubbish from Homestead because needles were found there in the past.

Tony Torr, who was in charge of the crew which found the latest needles, said: "We had been given assurances the area was now clear of needles.

"We went in and cleared the bags. We found two needles and a crack pipe. Other needles could easily have been in the bags we had cleared before we found the needles.

"It just shows how we are constantly in danger of injuries from needles and other items in this city."

Mr Torr, a shop steward for the GMB union, said: "There have been instances of our men picking up bags of rubbish and then finding they have a needle sticking in their arm.

"In a city like Brighton and Hove, where there are people using drugs, we are constantly at risk."

Crews working near the flats notified the council's environmental health department about the problem.

The site was cleared by a specialist team, ready for the binmen to resume their collections.

Achilleas Georgiou of contractor Sita said: "We have a training programme covering syringes, which all full-time staff are taught to go through. All our crews have scratch or sharp boxes where they put needles."