More needles have been discovered in Whitchurch following a report in the Chronicle which revealed a growing problem with drugs paraphernalia dumped in the town.
Leanne Ashcroft, who works at Pets 2000, found two needles in an alleyway off High Street.
Leanne said: “I was taking a break in the alley next to the shop. I looked down the drain and saw two needles.”
After informing the shop owners who contacted North Shropshire District Council the needles were removed on Monday.
Following a Freedom of Information request it was reported last week that 200 needles were found in Yardington, Whitchurch, in February and that two district council workers had been treated for suspected needle stick injuries.
Peter Martin, Whitchurch town clerk, has reported a number of incidents of needles being dropped into public bins and drains.
He said: “We’re worried about young children putting their hands in the bin. We asked the police to keep an eye out after we saw some men dropping needles into bins and then some girls collecting them.”
A FOI request to West Mercia Police has also revealed police have been alerted to needles being found in Whitchurch twice so far this year. Prior to that the last incident was in 2005.
The police also revealed that in 2006 there were 16 people recorded as receiving treatment for heroin addiction in the Whitchurch area while in 2008 the figure had risen to 35.
The response stated: “Please note that these figures only reflect the number of persons seeking treatment for addiction and they cannot be used for comparison purposes for the number of persons suffering from addiction.”