A FURIOUS York landlord has strung protest banners outside his pub to "shame" council officers who left him facing fines of up to £20,000 if dancing breaks out on his premises.

Ray Leadley-Yoward says the dispute erupted after pensioner Mavis Brogden enjoyed an impromptu boogie in the Melbourne pub, in Cemetery Road, during a song by a regular singer.

City of York Council officials have since written to Ray, 59, warning him of hefty fines if dancing takes place. They also pointed out the singer was breaching licensing regulations by using a backing tape.

The council confirmed it gave Ray a formal warning, although a spokesman said it had nothing to do with dancing.

But Ray, who retires next month, insists a licensing official told him Ray may have to "physically" stop punters jiving in the future.

Ray has now put up a board outside the pub which reads: "Dancing Banned By York Council", and another inside which says: "Please Do Not Dance - I Can Be Fined £20,000".

"This is bureaucracy gone mad," Ray said.

"My customers don't believe me - they think it's barking mad.

"I'm not denying I breached licensing rules by allowing backing tapes, but to stop a spontaneous dance in the future is madness.

"The officers obviously saw this pensioner and her daughter having a quick boogie and decided to report it.

"I will have to police the jukebox in future to make sure no one dances."

Barmaid Pauline Thompson said: "It's ridiculous. How can you tell a 70-year-old woman she can't jive?"

Mrs Brogden commented: "It's madness."

Dick Haswell, the council's regulation unit manager, said officers carried out routine checks on pubs and other premises across York. Officers found that at the Melbourne, there was an entertainer singing to pre-recorded music, and the landlord did not have a public entertainment licence.

Mr Haswell said: "Rather than acting immediately to stop the event, which the officers were entitled to do, a warning letter was subsequently sent to the landlord outlining what the licensing requirements were and reminding him that there was a fine for breaching the law.

"The landlord is already aware of the licensing requirements, after previously requesting a licence and not following it up.

"The breach did not have anything to do with any dancing that had taken place at the pub - indeed officers didn't even see any dancing take place at the pub.

"In our letter we outlined every activity that needs a public entertainment licence to make sure the landlord clearly understood what he should do - that includes dancing and music. The reason for this warning was the pre-recorded music and nothing else."

Updated: 10:09 Saturday, December 29, 2001