FOUR men were being interviewed by police today after a fireworks explosion destroyed the only telephone box in a York village.

The group, all in their late teens and 20s and thought to be local, were arrested minutes after a huge blast scattered debris from the kiosk over 30 metres at Murton.

Paul Whittaker, 37, landlord of the Bay Horse pub, which is onlymetres from the telephone box, said he saw police officers shouting and pointing towards a vehicle, with four men inside, minutes after the explosion.

He said: "One of the officers shouted 'That's the car', and then they stopped it and began arresting and leading away each one of the four men inside.

"I think the group had doubled back to see what damage they had done when they were caught. It's good when the police respond like that. Everyone moans about the police, but it looks like they got a result last night."

Detectives were today interviewing householders living nearby. The officers believe the incident is connected to a devastating string of explosions in York over the weekend which left three telephone boxes reduced to scrap.

A York Police spokesman said a Ford Escort carrying the four men, all from the York area, was stopped just 20 minutes after residents in Murton reported a loud bang at about 11pm.

He said there was "extensive damage" to the booth in Murton Way, at the centre of the small village, and the area was cordoned off by officers.

A nearby car was slightly damaged in the blast.

All four youths were arrested under the Explosives Act and taken to Fulford Police Station. Forensic scientists were examining the vehicle and scene of the explosion today.

A resident whose house looks on to the telephone box said it was a great shame that the old fashioned red kiosk had been ripped to pieces and said she hoped BT would restore it.

Updated: 10:38 Tuesday, October 14, 2003