BAILIFFS have been called into a North Yorkshire business at the centre of a row over changes to its address.

Geoff Leason, who runs Leason Sheds in Kirkbymoorside with wife Diane, has been withholding nearly £5,000 in business rates from Ryedale District Council in protest.

He claims his address was changed after he had spent around £8,000 on brochures, signs and advertising.

"We took it in good faith that the address was the correct one and we went ahead with all the printing and so on," said Mr Leason.

"We were withholding the rates because of the changes to the numbering, the address, and also the postcoding."

"It's not just one thing, there's been a multitude of errors"

Leason Sheds' address has changed from number 7 to 46 Dove Way, to Ings East, and then back to Dove Way.

It also changed from Kirby Mills to Kirkby Mills Industrial Estate, and from YO62 6NR to YO62 6QR.

"The most annoying part is that we bought the land from Ryedale District Council in the first place."

But Clive Key, taxation manager for Ryedale District Council, said: "They are still trading from the estate whether it's number one or 21, hence the council are taking this action.

"We have offered for them to pay over instalments which they have not done, we have no alternative now but to get the bailiff involved."

Mr Leason said they had come to an agreement with the bailiffs to pay the money owed in instalments.

Updated: 11:02 Thursday, March 06, 2003