COULD I explain why shoppers, residents and visitors were struggling to deposit litter into the litter bins in the Parliament Street area last Saturday.

When the city has a VIP visitor or an event that has some connection with the security forces, it is necessary to seal litter bins in the area to combat the threat of any suspicious package being placed in the open litter bin.

This was the case on Saturday when the city played host to the Territorial Army tattoo. I can assure you it was not a ploy to encourage people to take their litter home.

Thank you to all those people who, on finding the litter bins sealed, didn't just drop their litter on the floor but found an unsealed bin in the surrounding streets in which to place it.

PR Willey,

Burnholme Drive,

Heworth, York.

Updated: 11:05 Wednesday, May 22, 2002