THE search is on for a York home-owner, whose empty house is being targeted by mindless vandals.

Councillors are urgently trying to track down a Mr Dean Hill, whose house in Bradley Drive, Foxwood, is standing vacant and boarded-up.

Bizarrely, Mr Hill is making his regular mortgage payments, while his property falls further into disrepair.

Local councillor Steve Galloway said the house had been empty for several years, but that they had been unable to make contact with Mr Hill.

He said the house was the worst in his ward by some way, and they were keen to trace the owner so they could take action to improve the condition of the house. He said neighbours did not know the owner's whereabouts.

Youths recently broke into the house, and neighbours are now concerned about possible arson attacks.

There has also been a lot of rubbish dumped in the garden.

Coun Galloway said: "The strange thing is that somebody is paying the mortgage on it. It seems strange to be paying perhaps hundreds of pounds a month on a mortgage, and at the same time ignoring the loss of value caused by neglect and vandalism."

He said: "It is boarded-up and has been boarded-up for so long.

"It's unusual to have a property which has been empty for so long really, and it does let the area down.

"Any boarded-up property in a busy residential street is an eyesore."

A City of York Council spokeswoman, said: "We are aware of the property and have tried to contact the owner, but unfortunately have been unable to do so.

"If the property is open to trespass, the council will make it secure, but the current empty homes policy is to not use other compulsory purchase orders but use other measures."

The council may be able to improve the condition of the house themselves, and attempt to recoup costs later.