I WAS amused by the plight of Kevin Horner in his fruitless search for an unsealed litter bin in which to deposit his tasteless chewing gum (Letters, April 24).

To enlighten Mr Horner, and no doubt countless others, I was the person responsible for getting up at the crack of dawn and sealing all the bins and removing countless others.

I wasn't trying to boost the tally of on the spot fines by encouraging people to drop litter, I was merely assisting a joint operation involving the armed forces, North Yorkshire police and the city council.

The sealing and removing of litter bins occurs when an event involving the armed forces is taking place in the city - on this occasion a marching military band was parading from High Ousegate to Museum Gardens.

Sealing bins is a counter terrorism measure as a result of lessons learned from a bomb in a bin in Warrington years ago.

I thank Mr Horner for disposing of his gum in a wheelie bin and not on the floor.

PR Willey,

Burnholme Drive,

Heworth, York.

Updated: 10:07 Wednesday, April 28, 2004