HYPODERMIC needles have been found in the toilets of a supermarket.

The discovery has prompted the management of the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Romney Place, Maidstone, to erect a sign warning customers of the potential danger.

The find came as police and the council revealed they are hoping to install bins at selected sites in the town centre where such needles can be safely disposed.

The sign put up by Sainsbury’s in the entrance foyer to the store’s men’s and women’s toilets said: “Important Customer Notice. For your safety please be vigilant when using these toilets as there may be hypodermic needles in the area. Thank you for your co-operation.”

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman declined to say how many needles had been found.

She added: “It seems people who have a drug addiction have been using the premises for that activity.”

Store manager Nigel Gear said: “We take issues of this nature very seriously and the safety of our customers and colleagues is our number one priority.

“The toilets are checked every 30 minutes by colleagues to ensure customer safety and we are working closely with police to minimise the problem.

“Customers requested that a sign was displayed on the toilet door to raise awareness of the problem among shoppers.”

Insp Adam Jones, of the Maidstone police urban neighbourhood team, said: “We take the use of drugs very seriously in Maidstone and have recently conducted operations in town and also in the outlying areas of Maidstone, to combat illegal drug use in public establishments.”

He said this had resulted in a number of arrests for drug use and possession.

Insp Jones added: “However, we do acknowledge that some people will continue to misuse drugs and constantly run the risk of being caught by us.

“With this in mind, we have been working with Maidstone Borough Council and the Safer Maidstone Partnership to ensure that bins are provided at various sites in the town for people to dispose of hypodermic needles safely.

“This will ensure that hypodermic needles are less likely to cause harm to members of the public or the local workforce.”