NEW plastic igloo-shaped paper banks have been branded a "joke" by York fire chiefs after several were torched by hooligans.

Arson reduction co-ordinator Mick Brighton said the recycling bins were highly flammable and called on City of York Council to replace them with metal ones.

More than 80 of the paper banks were installed in car parks, shopping centres and community areas in the city as part of a recycling initiative organised by the council and Yorwaste.

But five bins were destroyed at the weekend by arsonists in Safeway car park, in Acomb.

"I'm very, very upset that nobody has thought this through," Mr Brighton said.

"It's an embarrassment for all concerned. The banks are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard."

Mr Brighton said he raised the issue of plastic banks with the council prior to them being installed, but no one got back to him.

"I'm going to sue the council for loss of hair because I've been pulling it out over this!" he said.

John Miller, Yorwaste recycling manager, said it would replace the Safeway car park bins with sturdier metal ones.

"Wherever we get continued incidents of arson with the plastic banks we will replace them," he said.

"Unfortunately metal bins aren't as attractive as the new plastic ones."

Coun Andrew Waller, executive member for environment and sustainability, said he raised the issue of the suitability of plastic bins with Yorwaste before their launch.

"I was told that the banks hadn't been a problem in other towns," he said.

Updated: 10:57 Wednesday, June 25, 2003