CHEMISTS in York who tried to help drug addicts have been forced to close two needle-exchange centres after staff and customers were continually abused.

Bosses of the two Moss Chemists branches in Clifton and Heworth, revealed employees were regularly sworn and shouted at by a minority of "aggressive" heroin users and had no option but to drop the service.

The pharmacies ran the needle-exchange service on behalf of the Compass Drug Resource Scheme, which encourages addicts to swap their used needles for clean ones, to stop them being discarded on the street.

But Clifton residents claim the closure of their service has already caused an increase in potentially-lethal needles being left lying around.

Matt Knight, manager of Compass, based in Bridge Street, York, said the services stopped because of a minority of users.

He said: "Staff at the chemists told me the vast majority of users were very well-behaved.

"Unfortunately a small minority became abusive when asked to hand over their dirty needles, because they must be returned before clean ones can be handed out.

"They were scaring a lot of customers by swearing and shouting at staff."

He said the scheme had now extended its opening hours to accommodate for the closure in Clifton.

It will now be open on Saturdays between 9.30am and 4.30pm and on Tuesdays between 5pm and 7.30pm.

A spokeswoman for Moss Chemists said: "Safety has always been a key concern at Moss, from the despatch of medicines to staff safety and the provision of in-store services.

"For the last eight years our York branches in Clifton and Heworth Village have provided a needle exchange service.

"However, due to a number of aggressive incidents, which have led to police involvement and concern over staff safety, we've had no option, but to withdraw the services.

"We're investigating the safety procedures relating to the needle-exchange programme and will be reviewing whether it could be re-implemented."

Doug Cook, who is a member of Clifton Residents' Association and a local drug and alcohol support group, said: "A lot more needles have been found in Clifton since the exchange facility closed. They pose a massive danger to people."

Updated: 10:59 Saturday, September 15, 2001