A YOUNG York barman was hailed a hero today after leaping behind the wheel of a runaway dumper truck and stopping it ploughing into a neighbour's house.

Quick-thinking Darren Grant was in his bedroom drinking with pals last night when he spotted the huge stolen tipper veering towards Jean Philipson's property over the road.

Abandoned by the youths who had stolen it, the out-of-control vehicle was heading straight for the front room, where Jean's daughter, Simone, 22, was watching TV.

So Darren, 21, sprinted downstairs and jumped behind the wheel.

As the tipper slowly rumbled on, Darren pressed buttons and pulled levers in a desperate bid to halt it.

Amazingly, he stopped the earthmover within touching distance of the house.

Relieved Jean, of Constantine Avenue, York, said: "Darren saved the day - he's our hero."

Darren said: "I thought, it's going to plough straight through Jean's front window, and instinct just took over.

"When I got back inside afterwards I was shaking all over."

Darren's heroics came after two boys stole the green tipper, then took it on a "tour" of Tang Hall at about 7.25pm.

Several alarmed residents reported the dumper heading from the Hull Road area through Tang Hall Lane and Fifth Avenue.

The boys, believed to be as young as ten, dumped it after smashing into a lamppost in Constantine Avenue.

"I was upstairs and saw some flashing orange lights," said Winning Post barman Darren.

"The police were chasing the tipper, which drove straight into the lamppost outside my house.

"The boys ran away, but it was in gear and still moving."

One boy moved the steering wheel as he fled, setting it on a collision course for Jean's house. Darren said: "I didn't know what the buttons and levers did. I pressed one and it tipped the tipper up."

Luckily a combination of handbrake, brake and reverse gear stopped the vehicle.

Care worker and mum-of-five Jean was out at the time. She returned home to find the tipper two metres from her home.

The 40-year-old said: "Simone was in shock when she found out what happened. She said she could have been killed."

Sergeant Steve Snodgrass, of North Yorkshire Police, said the theft could have triggered more serious consequences.

He said: "These boys have been very, very foolish and a danger to road users."

Police last night scoured the area for the two culprits, aged ten to 15. One was wearing a blue and white-striped hooded top, the other a red hooded top and "beanie" hat.

The stolen vehicle was towed away for forensic tests.

Police are trying to trace the owners of the dumper, which has a small skip at the front, and have asked them to phone officers on 01609 789131.

Updated: 10:35 Monday, March 15, 2004