A FRUSTRATED York man claims to have complained to the city council so often that its number appears under "friends and family" on his phone bill.

Lionel Agar, of Rawcliffe, claims City of York Council staff have "ignored" him and just put him through to other departments when he calls to raise his concerns. "The council's phone number is under friends and family on my phone bill I ring it that often. I don't want to be complaining all the time, I just want to get on with my life. I hope other people will come forward if they are unhappy," he said.

His latest worry is over new "anti-worker" opening hours at the Foss Islands household waste site, which he blames for a spate of fly tipping near his home.

Mr Agar, 44, believes a 12-month pilot scheme to reduce the site's winter closing times from 8pm to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, penalises workers and encourages tipping. Shaun Donnelly, waste management officer for the council, said: "There is no excuse for fly tipping with the facilities available to people. I have written to Mr Agar and spoken to him on the phone. Mr Agar's views will certainly be taken into account."

Updated: 11:43 Friday, April 25, 2003