A man is demanding compensation from an estate agent after his house appeared on television without his permission.

Mark Sayer was shocked to hear from his parents that they had seen his home - at Waterside in Silsden - featured on the BBC's North of Westminster programme one Sunday lunchtime earlier this month.

The programme focussed on housing development in Silsden. Around 1,400 new homes are expected to be built in Silsden in the next few years, a decision which has caused much controversy in the town.

During the programme a young couple were shown viewing Mr Sayer's property.

"My house is for sale and it is being dealt with by Wilman and Lodge estate agents in Silsden," Mr Sayer, 31, says. "I rang to find out what was going on."

Mr Sayer, who works for the Scott Hall BMW Centre at Leeds, was told that Stephen Lodge, a partner in the company, would ring him last Monday. "He didn't, so I rang him the following day," Mr Sayer says. "He said he was sorry and told me the BBC had contacted him to see if he could find a couple to show round a house."

Mr Sayer says Wilman and Lodge has had keys to his house while it is for sale. "But they never contacted me to ask for permission to do the filming," he says.

"I have taken legal advice and I have been told that a trespass has taken place. I feel the company has overstepped the mark and I want compensating."

This week Mr Sayer received a letter of apology and an offer of £100 compensation which he says is not good enough. "What authority have they got to show people round my house and put it on national television?" he asks.

Mr Lodge admitted to the Keighley News this week that he had been discourteous to Mr Sayer but claimed he had not done anything wrong.

"I should have made a phone call," he admits. "I have apologised to Mr Sayer and offered to knock £110 off his bill but he seems to think that is not good enough. If he wants to pursue the matter further then that is up to him."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.