ONE of the region's MPs was left red-faced after his efforts to get the public discussing ideas online allowed a swastika to be posted on his site.

David Miliband's idea was short-lived after his interactive blog site, using the latest Wiki editing technology, was hijacked by visitors.

The Environment Secretary's website was taken down after only a few hours by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Mr Miliband, MP for South Shields, South Tyneside, invited visitors to the site to add their comments, opinions and ideas.

But the decision to withdraw the site was taken after more than 170 people made less than constructive comments and one posted the swastika symbol.

In a list of things citizens should do, one visitor wrote: "Pay a higher proportion of their income to the Government, and see little tangible improvement in their standard of living."

His question of "what tools can be used to deliver the environmental contract?" was met with answers: "Spade, organic yoghurt stirrer, old washing up liquid bottle, sticky back plastic."

Mr Miliband's latest entry said: "Since writing this, I gather that we have demonstrated the extreme openness of the wiki by playing host to some practical jokes plus a swastika.

"Strange how some people get their kicks.

"But the experiment will continue."

8:32am Monday 4th September 2006

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