TWO children could have contracted the HIV virus after being scratched by needles discarded by drug abusers on a North-East estate, their parents have been warned.

The youngsters - who are aged three and five - were tested for HIV and the liver disease hepatitis B at the weekend.

But it will be months before they can be given a clean bill of health.

They found the needles on Saturday, along with blood-filled syringes, in a carrier bag dumped only yards from their home in Howard Close, on the Woodhouse Close Estate, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Their father has handed police the bag, which also contained letters.

Other residents said they had called in officers over the weekend to remove syringes dumped by users.

Wear Valley District Council launched an investigation last night and promised to clean up the area this morning.

The mother, who has asked for her family not to be identified, said: "It will be weeks before we know whether the children have caught HIV.

"Doctors have told us there are no registered cases in the area, but we are still worried out of our minds.

"It is shocking that these things can be left around. They could have been there for weeks and other children could have picked them up."

A teenage boy from Woodhouse Close is still waiting for test results after falling next to used needles in September.

At one time, the estate's problems became so bad that mothers formed their own anti-drugs group.

Run-down properties are gradually being bulldozed and a new residents group is working with the council and police to tackle social problems.

Another Howard Close resident said: "We are sick of the druggies.

"They need driving out so that decent families can bring up their children in safety."