VANDALS are putting the future of recycling services in jeopardy, council officials in Hartlepool have warned.

They have spoken out after a series of incidents in which large 1,100 litre bins, used for the collection of items such as glass and paper, have been set alight and badly damaged.

In the latest incident, vandals used bolt croppers to cut a chain securing a bin on a site in Davison Drive, and then pushed it down the street before setting it alight, melting a big hole in the lid.

Ian Burton, Hartlepool Borough Council's environmental enforcement officer said: "The bins cost hundreds of pounds each and we may be left with no option but to remove them from some places if the vandalism continues."

Similar problems have been encountered in other areas of the town, including Asda at the Marina, where a paper bank was set on fire.

Helen Beaman, the council's waste management officer, said: "We have a commitment to increased recycling and have stepped up our activities significantly in recent years.

"Far from withdrawing facilities, we would much prefer to expand them in line with the Government's target of recycling 25 per cent of domestic waste by 2005.

"However, we need the support of the town's residents to help us achieve this, and I would urge anyone who sees a bin being damaged to contact either the police or the council, on (01429) 266522."