DOG owners have been left without bins for three months after vandals blew them up with fireworks.

Basildon Council refused to replace the seven bins, which were destroyed, until after New Year’s Eve, but it now hopes to install them in February.

At least another five bins were damaged by fireworks in November.

Nethermayne councillor Kerry Smith, who has been trying to get the bins replaced since November, was also told the council needed to find the thousands of pounds needed for repairs, as it had spent that part of the budget.

Mr Smith is calling for tighter regulations on the sale of fireworks and believes they should be limited to public displays and organised events.

He added: “Taxpayers are left footing the bill, which obviously affects services given to residents.

“If that is what is being done to public property, what is being done to private property?”

A council spokesman said: “Seven units are due to be completely replaced in February, the exact cost of which is not yet known, but obviously the council will aim to carry out the work as economically as possible.

“The council has not noticed an increase in dogfouling since the incidents and is grateful to the responsible dog-owners who have been inconvenienced by this mindless vandalism.”

Bins are to be replaced in Noak Bridge, Northlands Park, Kingswood Open Space, Holy Cross Recreation Ground and