A scrap metal dealer claims red tape imposed by environment chiefs will turn Ryedale into a graveyard for dumped cars.

Tommy Neal says he is having to turn away people hoping to get rid of their unwanted cars because he is under pressure from the Environment Agency.

"In the last month I have had to turn away a load of potential customers simply because the agency will not cut me some slack," said Mr Neal, who owns Tommy Neal Scrap Metal, in Haygate Lane, Pickering.

Mr Neal has been told he must lay concrete at his scrap yard in order to comply with Environment Agency laws.

"I've put concrete down in half of the yard, but I can't afford to do the rest of it just yet - it's going to cost me about £10,000," he added.

"In the meantime I can't take any cars from customers and unless I am operating a normal levels I can't raise the money to pay for concreting - it's a Catch 22 situation."

Mr Neal contacted the Evening Press after reading our report last week about abandoned cars turning North Yorkshire into a graveyard for scrap. Our report highlighted City of York bosses who were expecting to remove 800 cars left on city streets this year.

Peter Stevenson, the Environment Agency's team leader in York, said Mr Neal had been reminded recently of the law affecting scrap metal dealers. "It is a requirement that they have concrete grounds; this is to stop oil from the vehicles leaking and soaking into the earth and causing environmental damage," he said.

"Mr Neal is being treated no differently to any other scrap dealer in North Yorkshire. However, we have not made any order prohibiting him from trading.

"The scrap metal business is going through a difficult period at the moment and we are sympathetic to that.

"We have merely reminded him of the rules and asked him to comply - there is no reason why he should be turning customers away."