A LEADING figure in a York-based charitable foundation has dismissed a mysterious campaign group as a hoax.

David Utting, associate director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said the foundation's investigations could find no evidence a group calling itself No To New Osbaldwick (NTNO) actually existed.

Mr Utting said: "We increasingly doubt there is a real person behind this. We believe it to be a hoax and a very nasty one at that."

The group is believed to have been set up to campaign against proposals for a 540-home settlement at Osbaldwick.

Mr Utting dismissed a claim made by the group that the foundation's accounts showed an £88 million loss since 2000.

The claim was made in a press release, quoting someone claiming to be called Rachel Carson.

He said: "There is no black hole or £88 million loss in the finances. To say that is complete nonsense.

"The valuation of shares and the world stock market took a tumble over the last three years, but it is starting to come up again."

Mr Utting said that if the group did exist, it should go public.

He said: "If the group does exist then its members should come forward to become part of the consultation process."

Mr Utting said the foundation had unsuccessfully tried to trace Rachel Carson. He also said it had unsuccessfully searched for someone claiming to represent NTNO by the name of Arthur Grenthan.

Senior Osbaldwick parish councillors have claimed not to know who is involved with the group, or if it exists.

At the only address for Rachel Carson the Evening Press could find, the current householder said she believed a Rachel Carson had once lived there, but had left more than 18 months ago.

Are you involved in No To New Osbaldwick or do you know who is? If so, please phone the Evening Press on 01904 567131 or email newsdesk@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 08:44 Wednesday, November 19, 2003