HOW strange is this? Chief Reporter Mike Laycock was writing yesterday's page three story about a "gas leak" at York estate agency Otisdale when he needed a comment from gas transporters United Utilities.

The company has only recently taken over responsibility for the gas network in the area and Mike was unaware of either the name of its press officer or his telephone number.

He rang around and was eventually given a mobile number to contact spokesman Richard Felton.

Mike thought he might be in his office in Leeds, or maybe out on the road.

He had no idea that Richard would not only be in York, but actually inside the Evening Press building... in fact, within waving distance on the editorial floor, just a few metres from Mike's desk.

It emerged Richard was visiting to introduce himself to business editor Ron Godfrey and other journalists, as well as publicise United Utilities' role in the provision of gas around this region.

The story of Otisdale's leak, which turned out to have been a leaking cigarette lighter in director Rob Letts' pocket, proved an unexpected opportunity to do just that.

THE sign on the door of the Guildhall council chamber brought ironic smiles to the lips of sweating participants in a recent licensing committee hearing.

Heatwave conditions were making it uncomfortable for everyone concerned.

But we live in green times, when a bit of sweat is nothing compared with the importance of conserving energy, and the sign was uncompromising in its message: "Please keep this door closed at all times to conserve heat."

ON A more macabre note, regular Diary readers will remember former Evening Press sports editor Malcolm Huntington's memory banks being stretched as he recalled the rag and bone team known as Knocker and Noosey.

The pair, a mum and son team, were a well-known sight about South Bank during Malcolm's youth in the 40s as they wandered around Clementhorpe streets.

One reader, who has been scouring the local history books, can shed further light on these improbable characters and it appears Knocker may have met an inglorious end.

It seems Knocker gained his name for his habit of knocking on letterboxes as he passed houses to attract attention.

After not having been seen around and about for a while, a search team eventually turned up at Knocker's house - previously known as the Sportsman Inn - only to find that the rag man had taken his own life.

Trade was poor that month.

Updated: 09:09 Tuesday, August 02, 2005