A MAN has been awarded compensation of £1,550 after slipping on cleaning water at York Railway Station on his 21st birthday.

Nicholas Banister, of Leeds, was off work for six weeks and had to undergo physiotherapy for a back injury following the fall in March , 1999.

York County Court heard that Mr Banister slipped as he walked into the concourse of the station on the way to catch a 9.20pm train with two friends.

Mr Banister, who lived in Wigginton, York, at the time of the accident, said the floor was wet, but no warning sign.

He suffered a grazed elbow and knock to his knee, and headed home in a taxi. But three weeks later he visited his GP for a back strain.

Station operators GNER said contractors Initial Cleaning Services were liable for the negligence and gave evidence to show that their monitoring system was effective.

James Murphy, representing GNER, and Simon Plaut, representing Initial Cleaning Services, argued that Mr Banister's evidence could not be relied upon because he had only complained in November, 2001, after seeing an advert for "no-win, no-fee" legal services.

Judge Scott Wolstenholme agreed that Mr Banister had suffered an injury as a result of slipping on cleaning water.

He said Initial Cleaning Services should pay compensation of £1,550 and costs of £3,761.50 to GNER. The firm will pay Mr Banister's costs.

Updated: 10:56 Tuesday, May 25, 2004