SUPERMARKET mother and baby facilities will now be kept locked until shoppers ask for the key after a mum discovered a controversial sharps bin overflowing with used needles.

Mum Shonagh Davison of Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester, found the wall-mounted container spilling over at Hythe Tesco on Greenstead Road, after being told by customer services all stores had comfortable baby changing and feeding facilities where she could breastfeed newborn baby Monty.

Once inside, Ms Davison said she was stunned to find the changing area and sinks were filthy, as well as the potentially dangerous needle bin.

She said: "There were hairs and dirt all over the baby changing mat, the sink was dirty with soap scum, dirt and hair, the area around the sink was covered in hair too.

"The chair was far from comfortable as they had promised and was again dirty and the design of the chair means even a bottle feeding mum would have issues holding their baby to feed.

"Directly above the chair, hanging precariously was the sharps bin, not completely secure to the wall and it was overflowing.

"This was within arms reach of the changing mat.

"The roof panel was faulty, the bin lid was hanging and there was a foul smell coming from it.

"If my baby wasn't so hungry I would have left straight away so I attempted to give him a short feed to calm him whilst not using or touching the facilities, which was hard to do with a six day old baby.

"I expected more from a store which goes out of its way to support other members of the community - maybe one day they will turn their attention to the breastfeeding community."

The sharps bin was first introduced into the store in 2015, with critics of the move arguing the area did not have a huge problem with Class A drugs, however store bosses said they wanted to introduce it in order to protect customers.

Since Ms Davison's complaint's on March 6 the store has introduced a new policy where shoppers have to ask for a key in order to get access to the room.

A Tesco spokesman said:“Providing our customers with clean and safe facilities in store is something we take extremely seriously.

"In Colchester we clean our facilities every two hours and a duty manager regularly checks to ensure they are kept to the high standards our customers would expect.

"In response to this feedback we have decided to lock this facility to ensure only families can gain access. Customers can request the key from any colleague in store.”