A FORMER Castle Museum attendant has criticised management and warned there could be further thefts after a 19th century artefact became the latest item to be stolen from the popular visitor attraction.

Last week the Evening Press reported a Victorian siphon had gone missing, the third theft from the council-run social history museum in less than six months.

John Sutherland, of Barfield Road, Muncaster, York, has now spoken out against the management's decision about three years ago to change the attendants' uniform and rename them "museum guides".

He said that before the change the staff wore security guard-like uniforms and stood guard in the different areas watching for thieves. But the change meant that they had to guide visitors around the museum and could not be as vigilant in security.

John, 59, retired earlier this year on health grounds. He said: "How can the staff be guiding and talking to visitors and watching out for thieves at the same time?

"The management should never have changed the staff roles to guides - there is no wonder thefts have increased."

John had worked at the museum for nearly eight years and claims that when he and other staff were patrolling as attendants there was nothing stolen.

"But management decided we should be guiding the visitors round and not watching the artefacts," he said.

"One cannot effectively keep one's eye on artefacts whilst showing visitors round, so the incidents of theft have obviously gone up.

"If the staff aren't allowed to return to proper security duties, more treasures will be lost."

Sandra Bicknell, the head of City of York Council's museums service, said: "The change of the role of guards some years ago did not compromise security at the Castle Museum.

"We continue to review and tighten security at the museum, which is of paramount importance to us. However, we must make sure people can enjoy the Castle Museum and can get close to their own history - our aim is to be accessible to the public by providing displays that place objects into context.

"We believe the Museum is being targeted by thieves and we would appeal to any member of the public who has any information to contact the police."

Updated: 11:52 Monday, October 29, 2001