VANDALS have ripped up bins on a York riverside walk - days after volunteers carried out a big spring clean in the area.

The Friends Of New Walk won a ward grant from City of York Council for the new bins in 2001 along the walk, which stretches from Skeldergate Bridge to the Millennium Bridge.

The bins were fitted by the authority last autumn, but one near Blue Bridge was ripped up last Christmas, said Friends spokesman Chris Baily.

"It was clear that the fixing of the bin was inadequate, with about one and a half inches of concrete only an inch or two under the level of the soil," he said.

He said he had written about this to Stewart Grieve, client services manager at the council's environment and development services department, warning that now a precedent had been set, vandals would know that the other bins would also be vulnerable.

"We suggested that the bin be quickly re-fixed with proper footings, and that consideration be given to beefing up the footings on the other bins as a proactive measure."

But the bin disappeared altogether on Wednesday night, after apparently being thrown in the river, when at least two other bins were also ripped up.

Mr Baily called for the bins to be refitted immediately, and with footings that could resist future attacks.

Mr Grieve said the bins would be refixed, and he would investigate whether stronger footings could be used to prevent them being ripped up again.

Updated: 11:06 Saturday, May 17, 2003