AS our Christmas refuse starts to pile up, we may take a jaundiced view of a suggestion that Waltham Forest should abandon wheelie bins (see page 3).

Anyone who was around when they were introduced will remember the fury with which some householders greeted wheelie bins.

"They are too big and unsightly!" they stormed. "What is wrong with black bags?" they asked.

Now we are used to the bins and can see for ourselves the mess that spreads round residential streets in other London boroughs which have stayed loyal to the bag system.

Foxes, which have colonised Waltham Forest, will have a field day if we start stacking our rubbish at the gate again not to mention cats, dogs and vandals.

Dress it up how you will, the only real reason for abandoning wheelie bins is to save money on buying them and providing proper maintenance of the special refuse collection vehicles.

That will not compensate for increased litter and the potential health hazards.

Save the wheelie bin in 2002!