A VETERAN newsagent who has been trying to ‘prove his identity’ to his bank for the last three years staged a sit-in protest this week to finally get the answers he says he deserves.

Gordon Bird, who runs Mellor’s News on Barnsley Road, Cudworth and has sold newspapers for the best part of half a century, has spent three years trying to prove to Santander that he is who he says he is.

But none of the 89-year-old’s attempts have been successful.

Mr Bird has a personal account with the bank and a business one - and it’s the latter which is causing the issues.

Santander told the Chronicle he must complete a ‘source of wealth’ form, which Mr Bird says he has - but he feels as though he is being asked to go well and above what anyone would expect.

On Wednesday, he went into the Santander branch in the town centre and told staff he would not be leaving until the issue was sorted.

He said: “I showed the lady in the branch what had happened and said that I wanted to see a manager.

“I was told that the manager would not be in until the next day - I said ‘that’s fine, I’ve got my flask, biscuits and sandwiches’.

“I said that I wouldn’t be moving until something was done about it.”

After Gordon was eventually seen by another member of staff, who he described as ‘giving 12-out-of-ten service’ - he was promised there would be no freeze on his account.

“The outcome is that they’ve said they won’t freeze my account at this time,” he said.

“Whether that means they will freeze it at another time I don’t know.

“I was left with no other option than to do this - I don’t know of anyone who has had to go through this.

“If they do close my account then I’d have to close up the shop.”

A spokesperson from Santander confirmed that they were committed to keeping Gordon’s account open whilst further documents were completed.