Needles, blood and soiled duvets found in Hull car park

Needles, blood and other waste was found in Hull's Osborne Street car park.

Officials in Hull said they are working hard to tackle issues around rough sleeping after needles and blood were found in a city centre car park.

BBC News found the drug paraphernalia and soiled duvets in Osborne Street next to the Connexin Live arena.

The car park has seen multiple incidents of anti-social behaviour since it was redeveloped in 2018.

Hull City Council said its teams are working with external agencies to offer support to those in need.

The discovery of the waste mirrors a similar incident two years ago when human waste, beer cans and sleeping bags were left in the stairwells.

On that occasion, Hull City Councillor Dave McCobb described it as a "disgrace" and said he was "angry and disappointed".

Drugs paraphernalia and evidence of rough sleeping was found in the stairwells at Osborne Street

Officials said a specialist cleaning team was sent to the car park after the latest incident was reported on Monday.

Kathryn Shillito, executive director at HullBID, told the BBC the organisation also carries out regular patrols and has a "close working relationship" with the city council.

She added "high importance" is placed on keeping the city centre "clean, safe, appealing and welcoming" for the millions of people that visit every year.

Analysis by Richard Madden, BBC News

It was quite a stark contrast between the wintry sunshine and gorgeous blue sky outside and the grim scenes inside the car park.

If the hypodermic needles, blood, syringes, rubbish and soiled duvets weren't bad enough, then you definitely wouldn't want to know what it smelled like.

And the sad part, it was graduation day at the arena next door.

Hundreds of students, all dressed in their finery, will have had to pass the waste. What impression does it give to them or their family and friends who were potentially visiting the city for the first time?

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