YORK'S weather may have resembled a monsoon recently - and now eco-warriors have created another link between the city and India.

Environmental volunteers took part in simultaneous projects to clear up waste in both York and Moira, Goa.

In Fishergate, they braved monsoon-style rains to go from house to house, collecting unwanted electrical and household items and garbage.

Three car loads went to the council waste facility at James Street, and two car loads of recyclable items were taken to York Environmental Community Centre.

In the Indian scheme, garbage was cleared from waddos - streets - before the onset of the monsoon season, to prevent it getting washed into streams and rivers and causing flooding problems.

The work in York was carried out by members of the Green Party and the John Lally International Foundation, which was set up in memory of a York environmental activist who died 12 years ago and which has been supporting clear-ups at a Goa rubbish tip.

Green Councillor Dave Taylor said that people in Heslington Road had complained at the amount of rubbish left at the end of term-time at the university, and items were being collected which could be recyled.

He said: "The problems presented by waste in India far outweigh our own, but the principle of community involvement and the desire to re-use and recycle abandoned goods is the same in York and in Goa."

Trena Ella, chairperson of John Lally International Foundation, said: "We were very pleased by the joint teamwork."