HORSE nappies are on their way to the streets of York after councillors approved a three-month trial.

But horse-drawn carriage operators say they will ignore the controversial council ruling, due to come into force on Tuesday.

York councillors yesterday ordered carriage operators to trial a new system collecting dung before it hits the streets, but three out of the four operators in the city refused.

"It is just too dangerous, and we don't want it," said operator Ray Smith, after the meeting of the Licensing Board.

"There is no way we could train the horses that fast. It has taken me eight years to get my horse to pull the carriage in the city centre, and I don't want to undo all that good work with this."

"It just won't happen. This is our peak season. There is no way we can do this."

Another operator, Brian Calem, said: "It would take 12 months to train a horse to accept that."

City of York councillors debated several schemes to combat the problem of horse dung fouling the streets.

The council has received numerous complaints.

"It is particularly offensive at this time of year, with the hot weather, to walk around the streets of York, after these horse-drawn carriages have passed," said Coun Sandy Fraser.

The present system of street cleaning and washing was reported to cost almost £6,000 a year, and has reportedly led to disputes between street cleaners and carriage operators.

Councillors considered voluntary payments, the operators cleaning the dung or the possibility of refusing licences for the carriages.

But they but opted for the "nappy" or dung-catcher system. The system will be reviewed on completion of the three-month trial, when councillors are expected to make a final decision.

Updated: 09:07 Saturday, June 28, 2003