STUDENTS in York have staged an unusual protest urging council officials into action over syringes and broken bottles - though it turns out moves to deal with the problem are already taking place.

A drama group from York St John College were horrified when they discovered the state of the graves and memorial on land near the college at the junction of Lord Mayor's Walk and Monkgate.

They tried to highlight the state of the site by a short tour around it as part of their drama project.

Student Martin Sedgewick said: "We wanted to point out the differences right here in York, to say - 'Here on your right, are the beautiful medieval walls, here, on your left, is a graveyard covered in filthy needles, beer cans and broken glass.'"

But, by coincidence, the previous week councillors had made the decision to re-landscape the site.

Bushes and long grass, which have been blamed as one of the main causes of the hazards posed by the site, providing hiding-places for drinking and drug taking, are to be removed.

Martin said: "We were amazed when we saw the state of the site, in among the grass and the garden area were loose syringes and needles. Mothers warned their children of dog mess, without once thinking of the terrible dangers hidden in the grass and the bushes."

John Wood, city centre manager for City of York Council, said: "This area has been a concern for local residents and the council for some time.

"The site is cleaned on a daily basis, but this is obviously not a long-term solution.

"The issue has recently been discussed by the local ward committee and the planning and environment scrutiny committee and it was agreed last week that the area should be landscaped and the scrubs removed to make it more open plan.

"It is hoped that this will resolve the problem. Work is due to start in early April."

The whole experience has been something of an eye-opener for the students.

Martin said: "Our project was meant to be about the apathy of people today, but when we realised what was out there, we wanted to do something."

Updated: 08:25 Friday, March 21, 2003