A father is speaking out after his nine-year-old son was tested for HIV and Hepatitis after another youngster is said to have jabbed him with a needle found in a skip.

It is understood the boy is one of nine children who are waiting to see if they tested positive after the incident near Redburn Community Centre in Irvine, North Ayrshire on Sunday.

Zander Kelly said he is furious and his wife is distraught while they wait for the test results, which could take up to 6 weeks.

The father from Irvine told STV News his son had been playing outside when an older boy chased him and other children with a needle he found in a skip and jabbed them with it.

Mr Kelly said: "My nine-year-old son he came downstairs the other day and asked me if he was going to get aids. He is too young to really understand what is going on, but what do you tell your child when they ask you that?

"I went up to his school and told them all the names of the children who were with him who could have been stabbed to make sure they could get the proper jags as well.

"I don't think any of the other kids had told their parents what had happened."

The group were taken to hospital to undergo blood tests before being sent home.

The family have been told by police a report will be written to the children's panel but no further action taken.

Mr Kelly added: "These kids need to be better educated they need to know how dangerous needles really are.

"The boy was sticking a dirty needle into other kids.

"Even if they were lucky and there was no disease, what if he pushed the plunger down and put air into their veins? That could be fatal.

"I'm so angry because there's nothing I can do to guarantee my son will be okay."

A Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed investigations were under way.

Kat Smithson, director of policy and Campaigns at NAT (National AIDS Trust) said: "There have been no cases anywhere in the world of somebody contracting HIV through a needle stick injury from a needle discarded in a public place.

"The problem of discarded needles is a concern for many people who would like public areas to be safe and pleasant, particularly for children.

"At the same time, it is important to reassure the public regarding HIV risk. HIV can be transmitted through the direct sharing of injecting drug equipment, however, HIV is a very delicate virus that does not survive outside the body well and therefore risk from a discarded needle is extremely low.

"Additionally, HIV prevalence amongst people who inject drugs is very low in the UK due to effective harm reduction programmes."