SCORES of hypodermic needles discarded in the River Tees are putting lives at risk.

Alan Slater, barrage manager and river master on the River Tees, said staff were placing themselves in danger when they tried to clean out rubbish and debris thrown into the water.

He said members of British Waterways tried to clean up the river as often as possible, but said it was made difficult by the constant presence of discarded needles.

And he said workers had tried to wear protective gloves for handling the needles, but found they were dangerous for the water.

He said if he or a member of staff went into the water wearing heavy gloves it could affect their buoyancy.

"We clean up as much as possible, but it's not really our responsibility, unless it is a danger to navigation," he said.

"But we have had problems in the past picking up floating litter because of the amount of hypodermic needs in the river.

"You can't go in there with your hands and pick up this stuff because of the amount of sharps present.

"It is a big problem. We might pick up 20 needles in any day when we are cleaning up the river."

Mr Slater said he believed drug-users were injecting drugs in quiet riverside inlets, where anti-social behaviour had become a problem.

And, as a result, they were throwing their used needles in the river.

"Every time we go out, we have to take a sharps box with us," he said.

"People need to be educated about litter and also what to do with their needles."

And he also criticised manufacturers for failing to use non-biodegradable packaging on their products, which added to British Waterways' problems.

However, he said the agency was considering getting all of the tree branches and wood substances found in the River Tees turned into chippings, so they could be sent to the Wilton site on Teesside and used as energy.

Councillor Bob Cook, Stockton Council's cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said the council was currently trying to restore lighting along the Millennium Bridge, but was eager to ensure the River Tees and the Teesdale site in Stockton was kept at its best.

He said: "We are working closely with a number of partners, such as British Waterways and Durham University, to improve the Teesdale area."