YOUNG mums today spoke of their horror at finding used syringes lying in their street.

Donna Allan and Sally Yarrow say they are afraid for their children's safety after making the shocking discovery at the Holgate homes.

The pair stumbled upon the needles, foil wraps and drug equipment in a split bin bag lying outside flats near their properties on Peppercorn Close.

Mum-of-two Donna, 22, said she was shocked to find the needles in what she thought "was a family street".

Now she's warning other mums to be on the lookout for more, before a child is injured.

Donna said: "This is a really good family place to live, so I was horrified to find the needles.

"The bin bag was lying outside the flats and youngsters had been kicking it around.

"I have picked up two syringes, foil and medicated strips. I was horrified and disgusted to find that I lived near drug users who don't properly dispose of their needles.

"I am worried for the safety of my girls, Alexia, two, and Nicole, one. I still don't know if there are more needles out there. We need to watch out before a child is hurt."

Next-door neighbour Sally, 25, added: "My daughter, Amelia, is three and although I don't let her out, if I did, I would be worried about whether she found any needles.

"You don't expect to see this kind of thing right on your own doorstep. There are a lot of children living in this area and these needles have got to be disposed of properly.

"Everybody knows that drug-taking goes on but it has still shocked people round here.

"I live in the first house next to these flats and I am worried there might be more needles out there.

"You hear about all the dangerous diseases that can be caught from needles and everyone is very concerned."

A spokesman for the Compass Drug Resource Scheme, in Bridge Street, York, urged people who discovered needles to leave them alone.

He said: "People who find syringes should live well alone. They need to contact the council's environmental services department, which will then come and collect them."

Updated: 11:51 Friday, September 14, 2001