A ROW over claims that York bus drivers are putting pedestrians at risk by riding over kerbs showed no sign of abating today.

But "short cut" claims by Acomb resident John Bower, reported in last week's Evening Press, may yet produce lasting solutions to the problem of vehicles damaging grass verges in the area.

Bus company First York has denied Mr Bower's claim that its drivers were responsible for verge damage in St Stephen's Road.

Peter McCarthy, head of service delivery, said tyre tracks he examined conclusively pointed to a lorry being responsible.

Witnesses back up this version of events, and he added: "I can fully understand people complaining when things like that happen, but in this case we are certainly not at fault.

"After seeing the tracks, I can't imagine a professional bus driver going that far off the road."

However, Mr Bower, 54, refused to back down. He said he also had witnesses who said they saw bus drivers taking their vehicles on dangerous short cuts down his street.

He told the Evening Press: "I'm sticking by my story. People have stopped me and said thank you for pointing the problem out."

He said First had only looked at one area of damage, not other examples further down the street.

He points to at least five deep ruts in verges - 12 inches deep and 20ft long - and cracked pavements.

The former Cornlands Residents' Association chairman feared a child might be seriously injured unless action was taken.

But as the row rumbled on, First confirmed they would ask City of York Council to make safety improvements in St Stephen's Road.

Mr McCarthy has asked the council to put wooden posts in front of the verges in question.

A row of wooden posts already protect verges on one side of the road.

The authority has also been asked to look into the possibility of adding double yellow lines to ease double parking problems in St Stephen's Road and reduce the likelihood of vehicles leaving the road.

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "We would remind all motorists that anyone who drives on the verges is causing criminal damage and that the council will take action against those concerned."

She added that the authority was awaiting notification from First York about proposals to add double yellow lines and wooden posts.

Updated: 08:29 Friday, March 26, 2004