A YORK man whose garden wall has been hit by vehicles 15 times is appealing to City of York Council to stop drivers manoeuvring near his home.

Paul Croft, aged 50, of Clay Place, Acomb, has suffered ten years of damage to his brick wall, previous wooden fences and conifers.

He claims drivers visiting the nearby shops turn their cars around in his cul-de-sac before driving towards town, sometimes smashing into his wall because of poor driving.

Last week the wall was hit so hard that a section was completely knocked down.

The driver of the vehicle even left damaged reflectors by the wall.

Mr Croft said: "It's meant to be a small quiet neighbourhood, there's only four houses.

"It seems to be really bad driving that causes it. Some of these drivers look as though they need to retake their driving test. People have smashed into my wall, got out and said, 'look at my car.' But what about my wall?"

Mr Croft said he will have to fork out a £50 excess on his insurance claim to repair the damage.

This follows £3,000 he spent on building the brick wall and driveway.

Now he is urging City of York Council to introduce bollards to the street, or a large sign warning drivers.

Mr Croft claims a council representative promised to consider implementing a warning sign, but has heard nothing since. A spokesman for City of York Council said: "Mr Croft should take this matter up with police as this is clearly an issue about careless and, or, reckless driving.

"Our highways team has no record of a complaint from Mr Croft, but we are aware that he has taken this issue up with our citizens' support team about two years ago.

"This may be a matter he and other residents could pursue at his local ward committee, which does have a budget for action over issues of localised concern."

Updated: 09:53 Saturday, May 03, 2003