THE organiser of International Women’s Week in York says it was the most diverse and well-attended such event in years.

Coordinator Sue Lister said the festival had grown from ten events in 2006 to 62 earlier this month, attended by more than 2,800 people.

She said the festival had been spearheaded by the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Julie Gunnell, who hosted six activities in the Mansion House, including an Archaeological Trust conference focusing on women’s contribution to archaeology.

Coun Gunnell said they were all well attended and attracted women of all ages and backgrounds.

"As Lord Mayor, my involvement in celebrating and helping to raise the profile of the contributions girls and women make to our society has been an extremely important element of my Mayoral year," she said.

Other events and activities included a packed house for poetry at the Basement Bar, City Screen, a Hafla Dance Party, Gypsy/Roma dancers, line dancing at the Tramways Club, flower arranging by the Acomb Flower Guild at Acomb Explore, silk roundel painting with the York Carers Forum and soul drumming at St Olaves’ Church Hall.

There was also a Loose Women panel at York Explore with Bernie Cullen, of York Bike Rescue, Anne Hutchinson of York Open Studios and Coun Sonja Crisp, and the York Feminist Network organised a second successful Women’s March through the city centre.