Special bins to enable drugs users to dispose of needles safely will be installed at a Shrewsbury toilet block which has had to be closed amid health and safety fears.

Needles have been left in toilet roll holders at the block of toilets near Shrewsbury’s weir in Castlefields sparking the closure and concerns about how the problem can be solved.

Now Alan Mosley, a Shropshire councillor for the area, said new toilet roll holders and bins are to be installed to ensure needles are disposed of safely – and police patrols will be stepped up to try to target drug users and clamp down on the problem.

He said: “Drugs users are leaving needles around and the toilets have been closed for some time by the town council because of users, on health and safety grounds. This is an issue which blights parts of the town.

“We were told at a meeting of the Castlefields and Ditherington Community Partnership on Wednesday that new toilet roll holders and a container where people can actually put needles would be put in and these toilets could then be reopened as soon as possible

“Sadly if people are using the toilets for this purpose then at least they can dispose of the needles safely so as to not cause an issue for other users.”

He added: “Once the new equipment is there they will be reopened and that is likely to be a few days.

“Police have also said they will increase surveillance in the area to deter people from using the toilets.”

Meanwhile, Councillor Mosley said an improved CCTV camera could finally be installed in Spring Gardens in Ditherington.