Ref. 71757-127A BOY aged five had to be vaccinated against hepatitis after jabbing his finger on a needle he found in a garden.

Tyler Morris also had to give a sample of blood for testing, although doctors reassured mum Michelle Flaherty that HIV only remains alive in a syringe for 10 seconds.

Michelle, 25, along with Tyler and his brothers Joshua, four, and 16 month old Tyrese, lives in Westbury Road, Penhill.

The family were visiting Michelle's friend Vicky Dimino at her council flat in nearby Inglesham Road.

Vicky says she has repeatedly complained to the council about discarded syringes and has asked to be rehoused, only to be told she was in no danger.

Michelle said: "The three little ones were playing outside by the front door."

She added that she suspected something was wrong when she heard men's voices, and went down to the ground floor.

There she discovered that Tyler had picked up a syringe in the rear garden and jabbed himself with it.

Michelle recognised the men and believed they were drug users.

She demanded to see the needle Tyler had jabbed himself with, and said one of the men then took it from a cider bottle and showed it to her.

Michelle added: "I took Tyler to the Great Western Hospital, where he had to have a hepatitis vaccination."

Vicky, 25, who has two infant daughters, said: "I have been here for two years and it has been like spending two years in prison.

"With hypodermic syringes left lying about, this is no place to bring up children safely.

"I have complained again and again to the council, but they have just told me we were not at risk."

Swindon Council spokeswoman Sheila Roberts confirmed that the authority had received a complaint about a syringe in the garden of a flat in Inglesham Road.

She added that the upkeep of gardens was technically the responsibility of tenants, but that, as a goodwill gesture, the council would be sending trained staff today to sweep the area for potentially-dangerous items.

Barrie Hudson