A TESCO employee claims she has been stabbed twice by used needles in supermarket toilets in Colchester.

The victim, who spoke out to defend the new needle bin installed in the toilets at Tesco Hythe, claimed the site remains popular with heroin addicts.

The woman, who has not been named, revealed other measures were tried, but shoppers complained.

She said: “ I have been stabbed twice.

“Before we had blue lights which stopped people being able to see their veins, but staff and customers complained.

“The bin helps keep me safe and it is better than before the bin was put in.”

The decision to install a needle bin has been criticised by some shoppers.

Colchester MP Will Quince also raised concerns about the bin and asked Tesco to explain its reasoning, which prompted a call from the victim.

She said: “I found needles regularly, even in the baby changing room.

“I am still having hepatitis jabs.

“I do feel a lot safer now it is there. The needles appeared almost every other day, but I do understand the surprise at the bin.

“I was shocked when I realised how many people use the toilets for that.”

She said security guards at the site were doing all they could to monitor the toilets, to prevent drug use happening in the first place.

A spokesman for Tesco said the safety of customers was paramount.

They said: “Drug use is not tolerated in our stores and we will always work with the police if there are problems.

“If there are concerns in a specific store we take every precaution we can to make sure our facilities are safe.”