It seems extraordinary that City of York Council couldn’t get around to collecting potentially hazardous used hypodermic needles from the homes of diabetics.

Sally Rowlinson had several boxes full of used needles - and says she was told by the council it would be six months before they could be collected, but that she shouldn’t dispose of them herself.

Sally complained to her councillor Mark Warters, who contacted The Press. Following publicity, the backlog has been cleared. But it should have been done long ago.