COUNCIL chiefs have urged residents and dog owners to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity after two dog waste bin were set on fire by vandals at a Longridge park.

Earlier this year, Longridge Town Council asked for a replacement bin on the town's rec, on Driver's Walk, off Kestor Lane, after it was burnt out. But soon after its installation, the new bin, which cost £180, was also set alight and destroyed.

Ribble Valley Borough Council's community committee was asked to consider replacing the bin and purchasing them if and when required, with a potential delay of up to eight weeks. But members felt the delay was too long and agreed to have extra bins in stock, which would be replaced with two weeks.

Longridge councillor Mary Wilson said: "The park has a play area and is also used for football matches at weekends, so there is a need for the bin to be replaced as soon as possible. There is the counter effect that people will get out of the habit of using the bins if they are not put back immediately."

She added that mobile CCTV could be a deterrent for vandals and urged local dog owners to report any future suspicious activity on the park.

Bolton-by-Bowland councillor Philip Nierop said: "If we have CCTV facilities, then let's us them? It is not fair that ratepayers have to foot the bill for new bins if they keep being trashed."

Council officer James Russell said: "I feel a replacement can again be found within existing budgets, providing this does not become a regular occurrence.

"I believe that immediate replacement from stock runs the risk of repeated short term vandalism, but maintains a service to people using the facility concerned."

Coun Paul Adnitt (Grammar School, Clitheroe) said: "If a bin is damaged, do we leave it there if we cannot replace it for up to eight weeks, or do we remove it? In my experience with damaged property, the more you leave it, the more it will get damaged."

Mr Russell added that the council had looked into the possibility of providing fire-proof bins after the first attack, but that there was little choice on offer. He said more investigations would now be undertaken.