A HOLLYWOOD leading light has demanded an end to York's parking nightmare, the Diary can reveal today.

But which one? Has taxi driver Robert De Niro hit out at the double yellow lines on Davygate? Did Arnold Schwarzenegger get in his Vauxhall and declare "Astra la vista, baby" to the Piccadilly parking attendants?

Er, not quite. It is Mark Addy who has put the issue centre stage.

The home-grown star of The Full Monty, The Flintstones and hit US sitcom Still Standing was asked in an interview what changes he would make if he ruled the world.

His first action as dictator would be to force all Americans to study geography and learn that there are other countries besides theirs.

"There's something like 88 per cent of them who don't own a passport," he said. "It's frightening."

He would banish Laurence Llewellyn Bowen "for his flowery shirts" and send anybody involved in reality television "straight to the tower".

Then came the crunch question. Which law would you introduce?

"That's a tough one," mused Mark. "I'd go for free parking in York."

Which only goes to prove that the city's parking charges are too expensive even for film stars.

SO why not park here for free? "Yes, unbelievable, but true," says friend of the Diary Chris Wood.

"You can park your car for as long as you like - absolutely free - in the centre of our historic city.

"With a wonderful view of the river, handy for city centre shops, the Minster and the railway station and have no problems: even if you return to your car and find a ticket on it, it can't be enforced."

But where?

"Lendal Bridge, that's where. No yellow lines, no 'no parking' signs for as far as you can see... and that's on both sides of the road."

Chris believes the challenge to parking restrictions in Bedale a few years back set a precedent which means Lendal Bridge is now free parking.

And as traffic is stationary on it most of the time, "who'd notice? Why remain sitting in the car when you can get out, do some shopping, see the sites, take in a film?" adds Chris: "This is probably the first stage of the council's proposals to close it to through traffic anyway - parking would be ideal use of such an expanse of redundant roadway."

WE'VE received many letters kicking up a stink, but never a pong in the post.

Until this week, when a small yellow box was delivered to our desk which supposedly contains the whiff of the Flying Scotsman.

It is the latest item sent to us by York's National Railway Museum promoting its new exhibition about the loco, due to open on April 5.

We thought Eau de Scotsman was a heady mix of jockstrap, whisky fumes and offal.

But the train fragrance has more oily notes.

It's the sort of waft you might get from the grubby rag of a traction rally enthusiast.

So far the Diary has been sent a slice of boiler pipe, a boomerang and now a niff by the railway museum.

Whatever next? We're seriously considering an injunction.

Updated: 10:52 Thursday, March 23, 2006