A FAMILY whose two young children were scratched by used drug needles have been offered a move from their council home.

The youngsters, aged three and five, have been tested for the Aids virus HIV after they found the needles near their home in Howard Close, on Bishop Auckland's Woodhouse Close Estate.

Wear Valley District Council's new housing director, Michael Laing, and chairwoman, Councillor Belle Bousfield, made the offer when they visited the children's mother yesterday.

Mr Laing, who is meeting health and social services, police and the County Durham and Darlington Drug Action team today, revealed he had asked for advice on the drug problem in Howard Close in September, eight weeks after he took up his post.

He outlined his concerns in a letter to action team coordinator David Cliff, highlighting anti-social behaviour caused by substance abusers, open misuse of substances in public places and the high number of used syringes discarded around the estate.

Mr Laing said: "There is a lot to do and we are working on a joint approach to tackle the estate's problems."

The youngsters' mother welcomed the offer of a move. She said: "I don't feel we can stay after this."