THE gloves came off in York's local election campaign today as the Green Party launched a stinging attack on the Liberal Democrats - claiming it would be "a disaster" if the party won overall council control.

The Greens say that a coalition partner would be vital to moderate a Lib Dem-run City of York Council.

Today they staged a local launch of a hard-hitting national report, aimed at discrediting the Liberal Democrat record on the environment.

Fishergate Ward candidate Andy D'Agorne said: "We feel that because Lib Dems could take overall control of the council, the voters have the right to know their record.

"There is only one real Green Party. Electors should be under no illusion that a vote for the Lib Dems is a vote for the environment."

Mark Hill, also standing in Fishergate ward, said it was "unhealthy" for any party to take overall council control in areas where elections are held every four years.

Some councils have more regular elections, with a third of seats up for election every year.

Mr Hill said: "The Lib Dems concern me more than Labour. "Their proposals to dual the northern ring road are a worry, and experience of Lib Dem councils in other areas show they are passionate about the incineration of waste."

Mr Hill accepts Labour have also proposed to make major changes to the ring road, and are considering building flyovers.

But he added: "People living in the suburbs, areas the Lib Dems are strong in, and are targeting, are more likely to be car drivers and more likely to back road building."

But Andrew Waller, Liberal Democrat shadow executive member for the environment, said: "The Greens have got to decide whether they are a serious political party or a narrow pressure group. The Liberal Democrat record on the environment has been pretty good over the last decade, and all our manifesto proposals have been carefully costed."

Steve Galloway, Lib Dem leader, dismissed the Green attack.

He said: "Frankly the Greens don't come onto our radar and we would regard any position they take as largely irrelevant."

Council leader Dave Merrett said the Labour group shared the Green concerns.

"Liberal Democrat policies will not solve York's transport problems. We believe they will have the opposite effect," he said.

Conservative Leader John Galvin said the Green call for a council coalition did not clash with his group's aim to hold the balance of power.

But he added: "For the last 18 months I have been saying the Liberals aren't fit to control the city council. I am delighted the Greens have now come along and said the same thing."

Updated: 10:58 Tuesday, April 15, 2003