A WORRIED grandfather told today how his back garden had become a dumping ground for heroin addicts - because of delays in getting a street light fixed.

Dave Waggott, 58, revealed how the hold-up had been caused by EU safety regulations banning council workers from climbing ladders.

He said junkies were taking advantage of the blackout in the alleyway behind his house in St Andrewgate, off Aldwark, York, to inject themselves. He claimed they then threw the needles into his garden, putting his young grandchildren at risk.

Mr Waggott, who runs the Antiques Centre, in Stonegate, said he had been waiting six weeks for City of York Council to fix the alleyway light.

"If it was up to me, I would have it done by lunchtime," he said.

"I phoned up a woman at the council who said they would get it done but it was difficult to fix because of EU regulations.

"Apparently, the only way to get to it is to build a scaffold round the light.

"Addicts are showing up now in the dark little corner and then throwing the needles into our garden. My two grandchildren like to play in there when they come and see us, so I've had to stop them for now.

"It really spooked the hell out of me when I first found the needle.

"I'm disappointed that the council just don't care about the drug addicts who have moved into the neighbourhood because they can't get a light fixed."

Mr Waggott said he and his wife, Val, had found four needles in the garden.

A City of York Council spokesman said: "This problem was reported to us on December 18, and our contractors visited the site later that week. It was established that they would need to return with a raised working platform, as EU working at height regulations do not permit staff to work on ladders. We are trying to fix a date for the contractors to return to this light as soon as possible to repair the problem.

"If members of the public should find used syringes in a public place, they should report them to the Neighbourhood Pride Action Line on 551551."

A York police spokesman said if members of the public found hypodermic needles they should not attempt to pick them up. Instead they should report their find to the council immediately, which would arrange for safe collection.