BRUTAL thugs chased the keeper of York's historic Bar Walls before throwing him off.

Chris Wooldridge, from Holgate, who is autistic, narrowly escaped serious injury, but was left traumatised by the ordeal.

The drama unfolded as the 45-year-old was closing the walls up for the night.

Three teenagers scrambled onto the high path behind him close to Walmgate Bar and gave chase for about 100 metres, before grabbing hold of his jacket and hurling him over the nine-foot drop.

Chris, who has opened and closed the walls for 22 years and never had a day off,

suffered a cracked rib and sprained back in the fall, and has been signed off work by his doctor for two weeks.

His family has now called on his bosses at City of York Council to ensure his future safety by providing back up should he be confronted again.

"I'm all right now, just about," said Chris, pictured at the scene of the incident. "They (the culprits) have got no sense - I think people will be furious about it.

"I just didn't know what to do and was very upset. One of them just grabbed me and pushed me off the wall before running away. I can't be having this sort of thing."

Chris said the youths were aged about 17 and wore bright clothing. The incident took place at about 8.45pm, on Sunday.

His dad, the Rev Derek Wooldridge, former vicar of St Paul's Church, Holgate, has called on the council to ensure he is given back up on the walls.

"It needs to be safer," he said. "Chris needs to know who he turns to when such a thing happens. There needs to be some system of support and back up."

A City of York Council spokesperson said: "This appears to have been an

isolated incident, but it's very concerning and our thoughts are with Chris.

"We take the safety of all employees very seriously, and Chris is provided with means of summoning help if ever he needs to as he goes about his duties. We're carrying out our own investigation, and it has been reported to the police."

Chris's boss, city centre operations manager Paul Barrett, said he was a

"smashing worker", and had an "exemplary record".

Anyone with information about the incident should phone York police on 0845 60 60 247.

Chris, who shares the job with another council worker, opens the walls by 8am most mornings, before returning at dusk to lock them which requires a three-mile walk.

He was recently featured on BBC Radio Four's Home Truths programme, talking about his work, following an article in The Press.

Updated: 08:59 Saturday, April 29, 2006