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I have emptied one of my compost bins and noticed hundreds of tiny reddish coloured ants, is this normal.  they don't look like the bif red ants, but my other bin had none in them.  I am scared to used the soil incase i introduce red ants into my garden

By red do you mean as in ginger or red as in red spider mites?

They don't look like spider mites, they look like normal ants but almost a transparent red colour, if that makes sense

There are around 50 species of ant in the UK if you want to identify which ones you have then take a look at: http://www.antnest.co.uk/species.html

If the ants are actually nesting in the compost heap rather than just foraging then it is too dry, moisten and/or turn the heap & they should move on.
Alternately spread the compost, you would destroy the nest, the ants would grab all the larvae they can find & move somewhere they feel safer where they don't believe they will be disturbed. Whichever option you go for you should not introduce ants to your garden.

Lasius flavus  those are the ones they look like, I am going to mix the compost around.  How can I make it more damp.

Quote from: caseylee on June 15, 2009, 15:26:34
How can I make it more damp.

Add water ::) using a watering can should distribute the water better than pouring a bucket of water over the heap.

Quote from: caseylee on June 15, 2009, 15:26:34
Lasius flavus  those are the ones they look like, I am going to mix the compost around.  How can I make it more damp.

They live mainly underground, and don't like light. They won't harm the compost heap, and will move on in their own good time.

I read that they are harmeless, but I wan to empty my compost bin as I have left it for 2 years to make sure everything had composted, I just don't want hundred and one ants in my bin where I keep the compost once I sifted it

You'll have a sight more then 101 ants in a Lasius flavus nest! They don't like being dug about so they'll move soon enough.