WHEN estate agent Lesley Beattie got the "golden number" she wanted for her new business she little realised she would become a part-time answering service for one of York's busiest switchboards - at the city's district hospital.

The number in question - York 631631 - has been assigned to Lesley for her new Quantum estate agency, which is due to open in Walmgate on Friday. In the meantime it is ringing at Lesley's home address in Copmanthorpe, and it was there that she started getting calls for the hospital - day and night. In less than two hours one afternoon she took three calls for the hospital, one for York police, and one from somebody apologising for previously mistaking her number for the hospital.

Before that she had received at least one or two calls a day intended for the hospital number - York 631313 - and had also taken one for Radio York and two for the police. Lesley told how one morning she answered the phone at 3am.

"I said: 'Hello.'

"He said: 'I'm really sorry to ring you but I'm writhing about in agony here.'

"I said: 'It isn't me you're looking for - I think you want the district hospital.'

"He said: 'Yes - are you closed?'

"Thankfully we both saw the funny side of it," Lesley added.

Lesley now intends to see how things work out when she switches her number to her office, before considerinbg changing it.

A hospital spokesman said: "The trust is very sorry for the inconvenience that this lady is having. We would just request members of the general public to be careful when dialling, to ensure they get through to the person they want."