PLANS to offer drug addicts a needle exchange service from a chemist's shop have been suspended.

Middlesbrough councillors Barry Coppinger, Ken Walker and Javed Ismail, from the Gresham ward, which includes the Parliament Road shop, made the announcement yesterday.

Their comments followed a meeting with Middlesbrough social services, support organisation Lifeline and the Drugs Action Team, which was called after the councillors were bombarbed with telephone calls from anxious residents.

The councillors' statement said: "We are very pleased to be able to tell residents that the proposals for a needle exchange at a chemist's in their neighbourhood are definitely on hold after a constructive and positive meeting.

"It is clear from our discussions that all the agencies understand the need to have a well-thought-out strategy, based on an acknowledgement that this is a town-wide issue. "

They said decisions had to be carefully thought through and involve the police, council and health agencies, adding: "They can not be taken on an ad hoc basis to the detriment of any individual area."

They said the local community council would discuss the issue on Thursday and its comments would be relayed to another meeting of the councillors and the agencies on Friday.

Chemist Andrew Moule, who wants to introduce the exchange at his shop, said the scheme would reduce the chances of children finding used hypodermics on the street.

He said the pharmacy already provided prescriptions to addicts and the scheme would allow it to issue clean needles and take back used ones to dispose of safely.

Dr Ian Guy, who runs Middlesbough's Fulcrum Medical Practice, dedicated to helping drug users, said the exchange service would be safer for the community because the risk of the spread of hepatitis and HIV would be reduced.

However, the councillors said: "We have to recognise that a number of facilities are required, in addition to treatment services, which allow exchange of needles and minimise the health risks to all.

"We can assure residents that their voices are being heard and they will be kept fully informed and involved in this issue.''