HERE is a poignant tale of two cities. In one, developers are turning every spare site into luxury apartments with all mod cons.

In the other, a family live with a rubbish tip for a front garden and fear to go out because of the threats made against them.

Both cities are, of course, York. The wealthy incomers and tourists enjoy the boom town blissfully ignorant of the neglect and misery tucked out of their sight.

Today, however, we throw a spotlight on unseen York, and it makes for disturbing viewing.

A few miles from the Minster, a family are living in scandalous conditions.

Rosemary and Michael Bailey and their four children can barely see through their first floor windows past the junk and bags of rubbish dumped on their doorstep.

They say they have been repeatedly burgled, their home vandalised and threats of violence made against them.

It is shocking that, more than 100 years after Seebohm Rowntree's pioneering report into York's underclass, we still expect a family to live like this.

While there is seemingly no end to the number of new flats for well-off singles and couples, City of York Council is yet to find the Baileys a new home. Neither will it place them in temporary accommodation because the police believe they are in no immediate danger.

That judgement is a fine one to make, because threats of violence can all too quickly escalate. Meanwhile, the family's health is at risk now from the rubbish, and their mental and emotional welfare is suffering.

We implore the authorities to do all they can to assist this family. At the very least, the council should help to clear up the mess. And the police might consider installing a temporary CCTV camera to deter or identify those targeting the Baileys.

None of us can feel truly proud of our great city while we let some of our citizens live like this.

Updated: 10:15 Wednesday, August 20, 2003