An impromptu wheelie bin race down Union St West in September last year only lasted only a few hair-raising runs. Police were quickly on the scene. Photo: ODT files

Almost twenty years after a University of Otago student was killed while riding in a wheelie bin down Baldwin St, police are appalled the activity is still taking place.

Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen said a group of at least 30 students were on Heriot Row at 11pm yesterday, some wheelie-bin riding down the street.

The group were also smashing bottles and had set a rubbish bag on fire, he said.

Some of the students were found by police to be inside and on top of the wheelie bins.

Alcohol was involved, he said.

The actions of the students were "brainless", Snr Sgt Dinnissen said.

"We're trying to educate them, but someone is going to end up with a serious injury".

The group were spoken to by police, and some of the students would be referred to the proctor, he said.

In 2001, Ana Louise North, a 19-year-old physical education student at Otago University, died instantly when she and a friend went into a parked trailer while riding in a Green wheelie-bin on Baldwin St.

The ride left her male friend in Dunedin Hospital with serious head injuries.