Efforts to clean up parts of Hampstead Heath that are blighted by used condoms and other “sex detritus” have been hampered by bin vandals.

Heath staff installed temporary bins in the West Heath area, a popular cruising ground, in an attempt to cut down on litter left behind last summer.

But the corrugated plastic waste baskets were destroyed by vandals, according to a report that went before a City of London Committee last week.

Officers are now looking for a more effective alternative, the report said.

Richard Gentry, head of the Hampstead Heath Constabulary, said: “There is a litter issue in West Heath and there are concerns about the type of litter, such as sex detritus.

“So we installed bins to encourage people to dispose of their litter responsibly.

“They were all vandalised overnight, but we don’t know why because we have never caught anybody who vandalised them.”