AN eye-catching solution to York's parking problems? Or a cheeky stunt by an exuberant city driver?

In fact, surprised onlookers were watching an advertisement for the Mini as a single-decker bus toured around York yesterday with one of the compact cars on its roof. Bus driver Steve Harris, 48, of Wolverhampton, who in fact works for mobile advertising company Freight Media, was today heading to Newcastle before continuing his tour of the UK.

He revealed that the car - a fibreglass shell rather than a fully working model - had generated some enthusiastic responses in York.

He said: "It's been absolutely fantastic, people have been sticking their thumbs up, waving, photographing it.

"It is unusual, but it's not the most extreme job I've done. The worst was when I had to drive a mobile bill board with a brand of female condoms on it - that was one job I was happy to finish."

Updated: 10:43 Thursday, June 26, 2003