WHEN street entertainer Steve Smith saw his friend's stolen painting being hawked on a train, he responded by doing what he knows best. He busked it.

Seizing the painting when he had the chance, Steve called the police. The picture was returned and the thief convicted.

Despite adding colour and fun to our streets, buskers do not always enjoy a great reputation among a public that sometimes confuses them with beggars.

But Steve is York's own singing detective and fully deserves his artistic reward.

Updated: 11:21 Friday, September 28, 2001