A WINDOW cleaner who had a lucky escape when he was shot at has hit out at police for failing to attend the scene - despite their station being only yards from the incident.

Michael Pollard said he was cleaning a downstairs window at Olga's Guest House, in Wenlock Terrace, York when he was fired at by a youth leaning out the attic window of a house in Ordnance Lane.

The owner of the bed and breakfast, Olga Shepherdson, immediately dialled 999, but was told police officers had been called to a more urgent incident.

York Police Station is just across the road from the guest house.

Mrs Shepherdson said: "I couldn't believe it. My window cleaner had been shot at by somebody with an air rifle and the police didn't want to come. I'm fuming."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said police considered the incident to be very serious, but the officer en route had to be diverted to an even more urgent call.

Mr Pollard, 36, of Walmgate, York, works for Cleaner Windows, based in Huntington.

He said: "I was cleaning the inside of the window when there was an almighty smack on the glass.

"When I looked out there was a lad firing out of one of the windows in the terrace opposite. It was either an air rifle or a ball bearing gun.

"They can be very powerful these days and if the pellet had come through the glass it could have blinded me. I'm feeling very lucky that the window had toughened glass, otherwise it could have been a very different story.

"I was too scared to go outside and finish my job and I still feel quite shaken. It's not every day you're shot at and I'm feeling quite angry that police didn't come round."

Mrs Shepherdson said she felt very let down by the police, who she believed should have attended the scene immediately.

She said: "It was horrendous and we're all too frightened to go out in the yard in case there's another shot.

"I am so angry that nobody has come down from the police. We even live opposite the Fulford Road police station.

"When I phoned, I was told that they had to go and see a lady who had been robbed, but that they would send somebody if they could.

"I pay £178 a month in business rates and I expect when I ring to at least have a police officer come down. I feel very let down."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said police considered the incident to be very serious, but said resources had to be sent elsewhere.

He said: "An officer was on his way, but was diverted to an even more urgent matter. I do not have the details of that incident.

"But the police will be speaking to the lady at the guest house and making enquiries about the incident. We will not tolerate this sort of thing because it is very dangerous."