Happy ending in mystery of 'ticking bin' in Chalk Farm

WHEN plumber David Briody heard a bin "loudly ticking like a bomb" in Harmood Street, Chalk Farm, he rushed to warn the authorities on Monday morning.

He said: “I found a traffic warden and a council street sweeper and said that bin's ticking like a bomb. I didn't have my phone so asked if they could use the radio to call the police or the council to come and sort it out. 

"But they both said 'don't worry about it – it's been ticking since 5.30am'. That's an unbelievable, arrogant attitude – they couldn't give an arse.”

He added: “Admittedly, if it was a bomb, it probably would have blown up by now. But you can't be too careful – there a school nearby.”

An electronic bike lock was causing the strange noise – it was fished out by one of the council's waste team.

TOM FOOT