A MAN paralysed in a fall from York's bar walls today pleaded with council chiefs to "save me from my nightmare".

Graham Knight fears he could be left isolated and lonely in a care home miles from his family because social services chiefs cannot find carers to look after him.

Graham, 33, is living in the front room of his sister Michaela's house in Leeman Road, York.

Carers visit him four times a day during the week, but are not available to help him at weekends.

This means Graham has to go back to Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, every Friday and stay there until Monday.

He has been offered places in assisted care homes in Boston Spa and Wakefield, but wants to stay near his family in York.

City of York Council officials say they are working hard to find a long-term care package for Graham, but there was no immediate solution to his plight in York.

Graham said: "I want to live as independent a life as possible. But if I'm living in a care home miles from my family then it will feel like I'm in hospital again.

"It makes a big difference to me to know my family are close. Having to live away from them would be a real nightmare for me.

"Mother-of-two Michaela, who works full-time and is a retained firefighter at Acomb, said: "I feel that everyone wants to get rid of him and pass the problem off."

Bill Hodson, the York council's senior assistant director for community services, said: "We have been working with Mr Knight and his support team at Pinderfields to arrange a permanent care package, and a number of temporary options have been discussed with him which could be used until we are able to arrange a full care package."

"These include a respite care centre for young people and a supported flat associated with Pinderfields.

"However, none of these temporary options are available in York.

"Mr Knight has indicated that he would like to return to York in the immediate future and we are working hard to ensure that he will have the support package he needs."

Graham was walking with friends along the city walls in October last year when he tripped and fell over a section of the wall in Jewbury, opposite Sainsbury's, and landed on the embankment below.

He severed his spinal cord, leaving him paralysed, apart from slight movement in his arms.

Steve Adamthwaite, the council's principal health and safety officer, said: "In the last few months we have carried out a full risk assessment of the city walls and have made some recommendations to English Heritage, who must agree to any safety work. We'll be meeting with them in the next few weeks to discuss the options available.

"As with any historic architecture, we need to strike a balance between ensuring safety, and making sure that the character and style of the structure is not compromised."

Updated: 10:42 Monday, July 14, 2003