Conservative-led Harrow Council is  proposing to spend £400,000 on bins, with opposition leaders calling the plan 'crazy'.

Councillor Susan Hall, leader of the authority, wants to spend the cash on bins in the borough's parks over the next four years as a part of her Cleaner Safer Fairer agenda.

Her draft budget, which has been vetted by senior financial officers at the council, says: "Waste bins in parks are quite aged, in very poor condition and insufficient in numbers.

"It is estimated that 400 are needed."

That works out as £1,000 a bin, which Labour have pledged to reverse and instead plough the money into tackling domestic violence.

The revelation comes as Labour begin to unveil their alternative budget.

Councillor Sachin Shah, shadow cabinet member for finance, told the Observer: "We want to chuck this policy in the recycling bin and instead tackle the big issue of domestic violence.

"It's a hidden problem in this borough, and it is in our Labour values to tackle it. Not to spend £400,000 on bins which is just crazy. It is utter madness.

"Too many people are struggling and now is not the time to waste money like that."

Labour also plan to scrap the Tory proposal to spend £100,000 on leaflets for the Neighbourhood Champions campaign, and claim that they will be able to alternatively spend £2,000 a week on funding action to tackle domestic violence.

Labour leader Councillor David Perry said: "This is not just any other crime. We are talking about an offence which hits families and damages children's education and wellbeing.

"We need to address this and address it now. The Conservatives claim they are being fair in their budget proposals, but they are being anything but.

"It is not fair to spend £400,000 on bins in times like these. The most vulnerable in the borough must always be our priority."

Ms Hall responded: "I accept that it is an exceptional amount to spend on bins, but unfortunately we are faced with a situation where we get vandalism and people try and set fire to them."

The bins are also cemented and fixed into the ground so that they cannot be removed.

"I don't think it is good value but sadly because of the problems with vandalism we have to make sure they are robust and secure," Ms Hall added.

Harrow Councillors with convene to agree a budget at a full council meeting on February 27.