Council worker for half a century asked to prove his citizenship

Dave Birkby "couldn't believe his eyes" when he opened the letter from his employers, Leeds City Council, which asked the 67-year-old: "Are you an asylum seeker who has a right to work in this country?"

Mr Birkby, of Drighlington, Leeds, joined the council as an apprentice electrician in 1958 and retired in 2001 as chief electrical surveyor in the Department of Education. He has also been a fitness instructor with the council since 1983 and still leads circuit training sessions at Morley Leisure Centre.

He said: "I couldn't believe my eyes when this letter arrived, correctly addressed in every detail apart from getting my second initial wrong. The letter came from part of the council I've never even heard of."

The letter was sent by the council's Head of HR and Recruitment Administration in a section called Administration Service, Employee Matters, Business Support Centre.

It said: "We have identified that we do not hold any asylum and immigration documentation for you. This is a legal requirement and is required to confirm that you are entitled to work in the UK and to verify your date of birth for pension purposes."

The letter asked him to send a photocopy of his birth certificate or passport, signed by his line manager as 'proof of sight of the original'.

A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council apologised for its mistake in getting his middle initial incorrect. But she said: "We have to fulfil new regulations. The council is a big employer and this letter was a formality."