A needle exchange for drug addicts in Hartcliffe that operated near a children's centre has found a new home – in a supermarket car park.

Bristol Drugs Project (BDP) runs an outreach service on weekdays that allows users to pick up clean needles from a van and speak to support workers for advice.

The mobile Harm Reduction Service van had been based at nearby Symes Avenue until last year, when the area was redeveloped.

The BDP then relocated to a car park outside Hartcliffe Early Excellence Children's Centre in Hareclive Road, part of a complex that also includes Hareclive Primary School and Hartcliffe Youth Centre, and is opposite Hartcliffe Health Centre.

Parents reacted angrily, arguing that the fact it was so close to very young children meant it was in completely the wrong location.

Some also said the nearby children's play area opposite the youth centre in Moxham Drive was a haven for drug dealing.

Now the service has moved once again, and relocated to the Morrisons supermarket car park a few minutes up the road.

The van can be found in a smaller, secondary car park by the petrol station car wash, between 3pm and 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

Around half a dozen people came and went from the van during the two hours the Post spent there yesterday.

Apart from the van, only one other car used the car park and it stood largely empty, although pedestrian access onto Hareclive Road runs alongside it.

Hartcliffe residents had mixed views about the move. Most felt it was in a better position than outside the children's centre but still felt Morrisons wasn't an ideal site.

Lawrence Fogg, 43, said: "It's a good thing, exchanging dirty needles.

"It used to be at the school and my little girl goes there. It was not the best place for it."

But retired Colin Kett, 73, said: "We shouldn't have it in the community."

The van visits 10 locations in Bristol and also provides sexual health advice, condoms and a nursing service that gives HIV tests.

Drug users can exchange needles on a daily basis or swap up to 40 once a week.

The service operates on a strict exchange basis, and if addicts do not return their used needles, their next exchange will be restricted.

Services manager at Bristol Drugs Project Justin Hoggans said: "The reason why services are not offered in somewhere like the community centre is that insurance for providing a needle exchange is quite costly.

"We have two vehicles which are able to respond to changing patterns and needs of users.

"The main reason it is in Morrisons car park is that we need it to be where people can see it and where it will be used."

He said it had been difficult to find a suitable site that could accommodate the 7.5-tonne vehicle and the project was grateful to the supermarket for allowing the van to park there.

Morrisons spokeswoman Katie Neasham said: "Morrisons Hartcliffe is proud to be an important member of the local community, which is why the store is supporting this Safer Bristol initiative.

"The scheme is run by Bristol City Council, who have advised us that it reduces the risk of harm to the public.

"The vehicle is situated across the road from the store, in a car park away from the main shopping area and is only open for limited periods.

"We have received no complaints and will keep the situation under review."

City council spokesman Peter Wood said: "I can confirm the needle exchange service relocated to the Morrisons car park off Symes Avenue on May 11.

"The service was previously on land off Symes Avenue but was displaced when the redevelopment began."

A spokesman for the Safer Bristol Partnership said: "Needle exchange programmes are an important element of the overall strategy for the city to reduce drug use and encourage more people to enter structured treatment.

"Needle exchange programmes are funded by the Government as part of its drugs strategy and are designed to reduce the risk of harm to the public. Such programmes have been shown to reduce drug litter and the consequent risk to the public of infection."