STAFF at a York holiday company say they are being reduced to tears by abusive calls after the firm's phone number was mistakenly printed on First York bus timetables.

Dave Martin, managing director of Direct Reader Holidays, in Walmgate, says he and his staff are sick of taking a verbal battering from angry bus travellers.

He said that calls about First York are outnumbering those of people wanting to book a holiday by three to one.

The numbers of Direct Reader Holidays and First York are different by just one digit.

Mr Martin said: "As soon as you try to explain to these people that ring up that they've got the wrong number, the majority are rude or abusive or even threatening. People in our office have been in tears with it."

He said: "(First York) may have put counter-leaflets out but the volume of calls we've had suggests it's not been effective or people are not reading them properly."

He added: "We are a tour operator that does all-inclusive packages to places like Australia, Norway and Cyprus. We don't operate the No3 bus from Strensall."

A First York spokesman said: "These leaflets were put out by City of York Council. We have been trying to correct the number."

A spokesman for City of York Council said: "It is important to point out

that the incorrect number only appears in the First York advertisement on this pamphlet and that all the other information is accurate.

"The mistake in the advert was spotted very quickly and both City of York Council

and First York have taken steps to ensure the incorrect number has been struck out with a black line on all but a handful of leaflets.

"While everyone of course strives for accuracy these things can happen to the best

of us."

For the record, the Direct Reader Holidays phone number is 01904 622922 and that of First York is 01904 622992.