Where's it bin? This is the question on the lips of every Foulness Islander knee deep in old newspapers just waiting to be recycled.

They pleaded in vain for a special paper bank to be installed next to their glass and textile recycling bins.

Then they watched perplexed as a lorry arrived to empty the promised bin which had not yet been delivered.

It has just emerged that this bin disappeared without trace, perhaps stolen by a green thief for storage and recycling of forgery failures.

Now Aylesford Newsprint, the firm in charge of the bin, has pledged to send another.

Denise Carr, of Churchfield Road, Foulness, said: "For many years the people of Foulness have collected waste paper and it has been sold for the benefit of Fair Havens Hospice, Westcliff.

"Last May, the gentleman who had organised it felt that increasing old age was forcing him to give up and, at the same time, the firm who bought the waste paper told him there was decreasing call for it.

"The parish council immediately asked Rochford Council for a bin to recycle paper and to place it alongside the bins for glass and textiles that are well used."

Eight months and many phone calls later there was still no bin, despite Denise saying the contractors had a job ticket to prove that they had put it there.

She added: "I for one want to reclaim my garage and downstairs toilet. I know of others who are getting so fed up with the paper that other members of the family have been hoarding that they threaten simply to burn the paper. What a waste!"

Mr Graham Woolhouse, Rochford Council's head of housing, health and community care said: "We are anxious to increase recycling across the district. Foulness did ask for a paper bin.

"We don't own these but we have an arrangement with Aylesford Newsprint, based in Kent.

"They provide the bins and empty them but use local contractors to do it on their behalf. They thought the bin had been put there but it seems not. We're chasing this on an almost daily basis."

Sandra Warnock-Horn, communications and development manager for Aylesford Newsprint said: "There was a bin taken to be put out on Foulness but it appeared not to turn up.

"We have spoken to the regional manager of the contracting firm we used. He has spoken to their driver who is absolutely adamant that he delivered this small 11 litre bin.

"It's disappeared, or been used for some other purpose. A new bin will be going to Foulness next week."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.