A MOTHER has called for a town's bus station to be cleaned up after her three-year-old daughter pricked herself on a used hypodermic needle.

Emma Whitfield-Gash, of Woodside, Bishop Auckland, is now facing an agonising wait to see if her daughter, Rebecca, has contracted Hepatitis B.

The toddler was happily playing at Bishop Auckland Bus Station while she waited with her mother for a bus home when Rebecca fell and said she had cut herself.

To her mother's horror, her daughter then gave her the hypodermic needle.

She said: "I was talking to a friend and our faces just fell when she showed us the needle which had been next to the phone box.

"I just cannot believe this has happened. All these people care about is getting high. They should have more sense and take the needle with them.

"Something needs to be done before more innocent children suffer.''

Max Coleby, head of community and cultural services at Wear Valley District Council, said incidents involving used needles were on the increase. He said he was aware of problems at the bus station.

"We have extended our training to a number of our employees in how to pick up these needles in safe sharp boxes, in order to keep on top of the job," he said.

Miss Whitfield-Gash said she had heard of another recent incident where a number of used needles had been found in the women's public lavatories at the bus station.

She also said she was unhappy with the way Bishop Auckland Police had responded to her complaint.

She said: "They told me there was nothing I could do and if I called Wear Valley District Council they would clear it away. I am absolutely disgusted.''

Last night, Inspector Ivan Wood, from Bishop Auckland Police, said that officers had since contacted Miss Whitfield-Gash to apologise.

He said: "We have contacted the lady in question to explain how this has occurred and ensure in future similar calls will get the appropriate response. Our main concern is for the child's safety."

Police urged people not to touch any discarded used needles they find, but to contact them straight away to arrange for their safe disposal