AS the scale of the tributes proved, George Best was one of the best known faces in Britain.

So our favourite anecdote about the former footballer concerns the waitress who had no idea who he was.

Ten years ago, Best and his former fellow Fulham star Rodney Marsh were on a speaking tour, and alighted at the York Barbican Centre (once a popular local facility). Before the event, George was, er, thirsty and the pair called in at The Old Cattle Market restaurant in nearby Fawcett Street. But to the pair's surprise, 19-year-old waitress Anne-Marie Barron refused to serve them alcohol unless they ordered a meal first. Otherwise, she stated quite rightly, she was breaking the terms of the licence.

A shaken George promised to sit quietly with his beverage and tell anyone who inquired that he had just finished his meal. But that cut no ice with Anne-Marie.

A diner couldn't believe what was happening. "I was just amazed," he said. "It's taken years for George's girlfriends to stop him drinking and this place managed to do it in 15 seconds."

Said Anne-Marie: "They just looked like a couple of dossers to me."

May the twinkle-toed dosser rest in peace.

WE were delighted to learn that City of York Council is taking up one of the Diary's money-making ideas.

Back in September we were trying to look on the bright side of the bins. "It will prove a terrific revenue stream for our constantly cash-strapped council," the Diary noted.

"Uncollected rubbish is to rats what a kebab van is to binge drinkers. Gleeful rodents may soon be running riot among the leftover-strewn backyards of our city.

"And who ya gonna call? York council's ratbusters, of course." Who, we pointed out, charge £30 per termination.

As the Press reported on Friday, that's exactly what happened when Osbaldwick mum Gemma Faulkner found a rat rifling through her overflowing bin. The council was all set to charge her 30 quid to remove the rodent.

Be fair and cut us in, guys - say 20 per cent per rat?

THE jungle drums inform us that the British public told our man in the undergrowth to "Rock off, Tommy." Can't see this improving his low opinion of reality TV.

THE Diary's roving reporter Dale Minks was interested in our item last week distancing limousine hire firm boss Dave Black from his namesake who wrote about disabled parking.

"Was that Dave Black's white-stretch limo I saw and photographed on double yellow lines outside York Crown Court the other day?" asks Dale.

"Or was it the other Dave Black's up-market disabled scooter?"

What if it were neither - and belonged to Mike Tyson, making a belated, incognito visit to our ancient city?

Updated: 09:13 Monday, November 28, 2005