A New Forest binman has been seriously injured by a razor-sharp object put into a bin bag by a thoughtless resident.

Nathan Long had been working as a refuse collector for New Forest District Council for just four days when he picked up a black bag with a hidden peril inside.

A sharp object, which may have been a knife, sliced through the tendons of his left hand. He was taken straight to the council depot by chargehand Nigel Collins and then, because of the profuse bleeding, was rushed to Southampton General Hospital where he had a two-hour operation.

The incident, in the Hordle area, near Lymington, has left him wearing a surgical splint in a bid to help the tendons heal. Doctors have told him he will not be able to work for two months. Even then he may not be fully recovered.

Nathan, 20, who lives in Lymington, said: "I was so pleased to get this job - I thought 'brilliant.' But I never expected anything like this to happen and now I am in quite a lot of pain. I feel pretty scared about going back to work - what if this happens again?"

His injuries have sparked renewed warnings from New Forest District Council, whose refuse collectors have been rated among the best in terms of their caring approach to the job.

Cleansing manager Mike Cash said: "Numerous employees have been injured because of a lack of care by residents. I urge people to think about what they are putting into the black sacks.

"Sharp objects such as glass, broken crockery, knives, forks, even the tops from tin cans, should be double-wrapped before being thrown away.

"If residents have something dangerous they need to dispose of, they can always ring our customer service desk on 023 8028 5959 and arrange separate collection of the item."

Nathan had been given full safety training and was wearing thick heavy-duty gloves when the incident happened.

Mr Cash added: "Nathan was very enthusiastic about his new job and it is appalling that just four days into it he is terribly injured."