THESE are the lengths that a tenant was prepared to go to in order to retrieve his property from a York's fire-hit flats complex.

Simon Moreton was furious when he was told he could not get to his belongings at Fulford Place, scene of a massive blaze.

So he took matters into his own hands.

Despite fears of arrest he cracked the lock himself, so he could move to a new apartment.

Mr Moreton, 39, said it was the "final straw" when he heard on Saturday that nobody would open the door of his flat, which was damaged by water that poured through the ceiling as crews battled the inferno.

"I was so frustrated," he told the Evening Press. "I decided that if nobody was willing to help me I had to help myself.

"Nobody was going to stop me getting into my flat."

Before the damage Mr Moreton, a self-employed technician, had already agreed terms on a new flat in a neighbouring apartment untouched by the fire.

But he said he was told only two people had keys to his old flat - and Friday and Monday, the days set aside for people to get into the complex, were not convenient for him.

So he used a mini-crowbar to crack the padlock, and removed his £1,000 settee, £1,400 television and a fridge and other possessions, including vital business paperwork, from Aldwark House before moving them to his new rented apartment nearby.

He said he had spent a "fortune" on furnishing the flat and wanted his belongings back.

Mr Moreton replaced the locks with ones of his own, after warnings that he faced a bill for any damage caused to the door.

About 50 flats affected by the flames had been locked up in the wake of the fire, so blaze and safety experts could probe the damage.

Mr Moreton said he had no problems with his former letting company, Quantum, or his current rental firm, Northwood Letting, and praised the actions of both during the last frantic week.

But he criticised property management company CPM and builders Taylor Woodrow for not communicating better with locked out residents about how damaged flats would be opened up and emptied. Mr Moreton told how on the night of the fire he saw flames licking the roof of one block and tried to raise the alarm - but could not find any fire alarms.

He said he was forced to run up four floors "kicking and banging" on doors to alert residents.

Ian Morris, director of corporate communications at Taylor Woodrow, said Mr Moreton's actions were "regrettable, unnecessary and dangerous".

He said residents had the chance to officially move their belongings either last Friday or yesterday, or they could have made an appointment for another day. Mr Morris said the company did this to ensure residents were safe and added: "It's not in our interests to prevent people getting their possessions."

He said Saturday might not have been convenient.

A spokesman for Corporate Management Company, who administers the management company for the property, said appointments were booked for safety and security reasons.

"If he had hurt himself I'm pretty sure he would have been back to the insurers looking for compensation.

"Some of these units are open and the developers and insurers have tried their best to protect everyone's property. We are very, very sympathetic to residents' problems."

A residents' meeting will be held at the Evening Press offices in Walmgate, at 7pm, on Thursday when key safety questions are expected to be raised.

Updated: 10:26 Tuesday, May 24, 2005