SECURITY at a council depot has been stepped up after the theft of a £1,000 commemorative bench was blamed on lax storage precautions.

Chiltern District Council has drawn up a three-point action plan after council chiefs were left red-faced at the theft last year.

Police are still investigating after the Chiltern Trail benches, of which the Chiltern Heritage bench was the jewel in the crown, were taken from the council depot, London Road, Amersham, before they were due for installation at Cholesbury Common, Cholesbury.

District councillor David Meacock (Con, Gold Hill, Chalfont St Peter) is furious that the theft was allowed to happen and that the crime has not been solved.

He said: "I think the whole thing is rather disappointing really. First of all that they should be allowed to go missing in the first place and that the police do not seem to be successful in tracking the culprits down."

From now on, all council officers will be advised that the depot is not secure and all staff will be reminded to ask about security before storing goods.

Further checks will also be made on the security of the building.

It is not clear when exactly the benches were taken but they were last seen on August 21.

They have not yet been recovered and they were not insured.

The hefty steel and oak benches were commissioned by the council for its millennium project, Chiltern Heritage Trail, which included a series of art works inspired by the community.

The community and leisure services committee decided on Tuesday night that the Chiltern Heritage bench will be re-commissioned by the original artist.

Cllr Elizabeth Stacey (Con, Cholesbury and The Lee), said: "I am interested in them getting their benches, and it is up to the council to replace them."