THIS war veteran claims he is being driven barking mad by his neighbour's pesky pooch.

George Beal, 83, moved into his home in Walmgate, York, in September and said that since then his life had been made a misery by his neighbour's dog.

Mr Beal, who served as a tank-transporter driver in the army in Burma during the Second World War, said the noise made by the dog every time it was left alone by its owner was unbearable. Council bosses said they were working to resolve the problem and the dog was also disturbing other residents. The barking means that Mr Beal feels he is being driven out of his home. One afternoon this week he sought refuge in The Press offices in Walmgate, York.

He said: "Something needs to be done. I can't go on the way things are. It's affecting my health.

"I have a heart condition and I am not supposed to get worked up, but the noise that thing makes is just unbearable. I have never heard anything like it, not even in the war.

"I had my family round at the weekend and we couldn't sit in the house because the noise was so bad. I got so worked up I wanted to go round with a hammer and break the window just to let the thing out and stop the noise. I am an animal lover and I don't want the dog put down, but it needs to be re-homed or something, because this can't keep happening."

Mr Beal, a former foreman engineer who is a great, great-grand father, said he had raised the issue with York Housing Association which owns the properties where he lives and he is desperate for something to be done.

Christine Storrs, chief executive of the housing association, said: "Our tenancy allows people to have dogs on the basis they are responsible for their behaviour. The dog owner appreciates his dog is making too much noise and is disturbing other residents and is happy to consider the dog being re-homed.

"We would hope to have the situation resolved within the next couple of weeks. We have been in touch with the RSPCA but, because the dog is not being mistreated, it is not an absolute priority for them.

"We realise that the situation is unacceptable and are working with all parties to resolve the situation as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will do all we can to help Mr Beal."