ANGRY York residents have hit out at council officials who delayed clearing used hypodermic syringes from a roof.

Residents in Walmgate contacted the council after they saw discarded needles thrown on the top of some low-level sheds close by a care centre for people with disabilities.

Five syringes - believed to have been used for injecting drugs - were spotted on the roof of one shed, but two disappeared before they were finally removed yesterday afternoon.

"What has happened to those two syringes, that is what I want to know," said concerned resident Bren Harrison.

"There were five, now two have disappeared. They could have been blown into the area used by the people with learning disabilities, or have been found by children.

"What then?"

Fellow resident Sue Fearn said: "We have this problem a lot in this area, we have seen needles up there before, but it was the attitude of the council which really disturbed me.

"They told us as they weren't on the floor it wasn't an emergency, so they didn't have to get anyone there within 24 hours.

"I pointed out that they could be blown off so easily and end up anywhere, and she told me if I was that worried I should go and move them myself - I really couldn't believe it."

The shed is close to New Horizons, a council-run care centre for people with learning disabilities and special needs.

The syringes have now been removed.

A City of York Council spokesperson said: "Contractors should have been to remove the needles on Friday morning."

Updated: 09:44 Saturday, May 24, 2003