A SHOPKEEPER today paid his monthly £638 business rates bill in small change in protest at York's parking charges.

Wayne Dixon, owner of Something Different gifts and collectables shop in Stonegate, delivered the payment to City of York Council's offices in a wheelbarrow.

He paid £100 in pennies and the rest in 50 pence pieces.

Mr Dixon said he believed both York's high daytime parking charges and new evening charges were affecting his, and other shops', custom.

He said: "The evening charges deter window shoppers, so fewer people come back the next day to buy items which they have seen in the window.

"It's a bit frustrating. The council is not responsible for the upkeep of the shops. The shopkeepers are. If we do not do it people will come and see lots of empty shops.

"The high charges during the day are going to discourage families coming for a day out in York."

This is the second penny protest to be staged against the council in recent months, with a pub landlord paying what he believed was an unfair parking fine in pennies.

Updated: 10:49 Thursday, July 29, 2004