A BACKPACKER from York was today trapped in a Bolivian hostel with limited food and water supplies as an anti-Government rebellion raged around him.

Dan Baines, of Nether Poppleton, stopped off in the South American country as part of a round-the-world-trip.

But a month ago demonstrators in the capital, La Paz, began a revolt against the free market policies of President Gonzlo Snchez de Lozada.

Mr Snchez de Lozada's opponents have dubbed him The Butcher.

Dan, who is travelling with friend Mark Noone, said every few moments the hostel he is trapped in is rocked by dynamite blasts. He said there are regular bursts of machine gun fire and tear gas is let off daily.

"I dare say I'm almost developing

a taste for it (tear gas) after nearly two weeks," Dan said.

Dan, 24, said La Paz has been completely cut off from outside supplies and roads had been blocked.

He said: "Quite simply, we

cannot leave. Access to the airport is also blocked."

Dan said he and fellow travellers at the hostel had been in touch with the British Embassy via email.

Staff there had warned them to stay in the hostel, away from the windows, and to keep an eye on the news. He said: "We all hope the embassy will evacuate us before long, but at present, we understand that there are no available military vehicles or helicopters to airlift us out. For now we just have to pass our time in any way we can, and hope that the food doesn't run out, as is expected."

More than 70 people have died so far in the uprising.

Dan's mother, Cathy, today said she and her husband were very concerned about their son's safety.

She said: "It is a very worrying situation. I have been reading some of the background and both sides seem seriously entrenched."

Updated: 10:30 Friday, October 17, 2003