THE Mayor of Middlesbrough took a beggar to task in York.

Former police chief and Boro Mayor, Ray Mallon, who wants a pre-Christmas clamp down in the Teesside town, took direct action against a beggar on a trip to York by walking up to the surprised man and asking him for a pound.

Mr Mallon said: “I was wearing my shorts and my cap so I didn’t look like the Middlesbrough Mayor.

“He said 'no, it’s the other way round'. I said ‘Not today, you give money to me’.

"He said ‘I’m not putting up with this’ and walked off and a woman shouted to me ‘It’s Robocop!’”