An injection device (110) is described having a housing (112) that receives a syringe (114) having a needle (118), wherein the syringe is supported in a syringe carrier (150). The syringe (114) and syringe carrier (150) are biased by a return spring (126) from an extended position in which the needle (118) extends from the housing (112) through an exit aperture (128) to a retracted position in which it does not. A drive spring (130) acts via a drive to advance the syringe (114) from its retracted position to its extended position and discharge its contents through the needle (118) and a return spring (126), brought into play when the drive has reached a nominal return position, restores the syringe (114) to its retracted position. The injection device is less prone to failure than prior art devices and is safer should failure occur.