SQUATTERS have occupied another empty landmark York building in a campaign to draw attention to wasted space in the city.

Up to a dozen members of the York Peace Collective have made their home in the historic Bonding Warehouse, which occupies a prime location overlooking the River Ouse, off Skeldergate.

The Grade II listed former pub and live music venue has been empty since the floods of November 2000, which saw the property deluged with water.

Now the alternative community say they have begun cleaning the pigeon-infested four-storey property in preparation for a series of public raves, art exhibitions and open days.

Gareth Spydaz, 42, told the Evening Press that the building, which dates from 1875, was a "symbol of wastefulness".

He said: "This is a magnificent property that could make an excellent social space for artists, exhibitions or even an alternative caf.

"The Bonding Warehouse has been empty for several years now and we decided that now was the time to draw attention and make a fresh statement of how buildings are wasted in York."

Fellow protester Paul Stevenson, 17, said: "It's a great way of making people think about unused spaces. We did not have to break in, the place is falling down. We came in peacefully and we will go peacefully."

The squatters are best known for their colourful activities during the White Swan Hotel squat in April 2003, when they took over the disused multi-million pound Piccadilly property.

They have also subsequently occupied The Gimcrack Hotel, in Fulford, a dilapidated terraced home in Holgate Road, and the former Burton Croft nursing home at Clifton. Leaseholder Lionel Davis, who took over the Bonding Warehouse with his business partner, Keith Carby, in 1988, said he had spoken to the police and solicitors about evicting the squatters.

He said a meeting took place last week to discuss the building's future and he is very keen to see it brought back into use as apartments, offices or a business.

A York Police spokesman said they were investigating an alleged burglary at the Bonding Warehouse and officers had visited Skeldergate to inspect the property.

Neil Hindhaugh, head of property services for City of York Council, which owns the building, said: "The responsibility for the property lies with the tenant, but we will be doing everything we can to get this matter resolved quickly."

Updated: 11:01 Saturday, August 14, 2004