Four children sent to hospital after finding needles in play area

Four young children have been treated in hospital after they found hypodermic needles in a play area in east Belfast.

The children discovered the syringes near Connswater shopping centre last night.

They were given anti-hepatitis vaccines in hospital.

The father of one of the children was in contact with Ulster Unionist MLA Michael Copeland early this morning.

"If I understood them correctly, some of them actually pricked themselves or injured themselves with these objects," said Mr Copeland.