A YEOMAN of the Guard who rugby-tackled a would-be streaker at a Buckingham Palace garden party is from York, it has emerged.

Raymond Duffy, 56, was wearing the traditional uniform of scarlet tunic and hat complete with a sword scabbard when he brought the 17-year-old to the ground at the summer tea party.

The Territorial Army captain, from Rawcliffe, was guarding the gate of the royal tea tent when the youth stripped off down to his boxer shorts and dived through the 8,000-strong crowd shouting "wahey!"

Captain Duffy said his rugby training and 29 years' service with the Royal Corps of Signals meant he instinctively lunged at the man as he ran across the main grassed area in front of the tent.

Speaking to the Evening Press today he said that it was certainly the first time in his career as a Yeoman of the Guard that such an incident had occurred and he hoped it would not happen again.

He said his medieval-style uniform, worn by the royal bodyguard formed by Henry VII in 1485, did not impede the dramatic arrest.

"I just ran forward and apprehended him. I got his arm behind his back and marched him round to the rear of the royal tent where myself and another Yeoman handed him over to the police.

"It was a bit of a sprint. He was wearing a shirt and underpants - boxer shorts - when I apprehended him. But, apparently, he had 'flashed' previously, although I didn't see that," he said.

Mr Duffy, who has two grown-up children and a four-year-old grandson, also living in York, works in Hartlepool as a full-time member of the 34 (Northern) Signal Regiment.

He was made a Yeoman of the Guard two-and-a-half years ago and asked to attend up to eight occasions each year as part of his ceremonial duties.

Among the guests at the royal garden party were Selby councillors Richard Sweeting and Winnie May, who found the events of the afternoon a bit of a surprise.

Coun May said she could not believe her eyes when she saw a man race across the lawn of Buckingham Palace before streaking in front of the Queen.

Pensioner Mrs May, of Flaxley Road, Selby, was at the party with her family.

She said: "He only looked like a young lad of about 18. He ran across the grass and when he got to the royal party, he dropped his shorts and shouted 'yahoo'."

Selby District Council chairman Richard Sweeting, who is also a Tadcaster town councillor, said he was waiting in line outside the royal tea tent when the teenager streaked past, wearing nothing but a smile.

Coun Sweeting said he led the crowd's cheers as the man was tackled to the ground by a Beefeater dressed in ceremonial costume. "I do think it's disgusting, though. The Queen has a hard enough job as it is without having to see things like that."

Coun May, who is a member of Selby district and town councils, said she thought the man had been an invited guest, attending the party with his family.

The incident comes only a month after a comedian, dressed as Osama bin Laden, gatecrashed Prince William's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said a 17-year-old man had been detained by police in connection with the incident.

Updated: 13:42 Thursday, July 24, 2003