Boots in Deal offers the only needle exchange in the town.

The chemist, in the High Street, offers the service during its opening hours of 9am until 1.30pm and 2.30pm until 5.30pm Monday to Saturday.

People wanting to use the exchange must register with them. It is strictly anonymous.

They do not accept loose needles for health and safety reasons. Instead they will provide people with a small black box to put the syringes in. When full it can be exchanged for an empty one.

The Mercury was keen to highlight a needle exchange as a safe place to dispose of used syringes after Steve Cross, of Prince of Wales Terrace, Deal, made the discovery of one tucked behind the driver’s door handle of his Citroen Berlingo van parked in Beach Street, on Saturday, June 6.

A three-year-old boy also discovered a used needle on Deal beach.

As an alternative, Paydens in Queen Street, Deal, accepts sharps boxes, given to known intravenous drug users and diabetic patients.

Currently, none of the district’s public toilets offer a sharps container.

A DDC spokesman said: “We have supplied sharps boxes in public conveniences in the past, where there’s a proven need for them, and we would encourage people to report incidents of dropped needles, so that we can identify any problem areas and assess any future need.

“There are needle exchange points at locations in the district, and sharps can be disposed of at chemists.

“We do have contractors who inspect the toilets regularly and remove any discarded needles. If anyone sees a discarded needle in a public place, they should contact DDC on 01304 821199, and it will be removed as a matter of urgency. The Community Safety Unit will also assess the information and identify any emerging concerns.”