GIFT shops in York were today preparing for a rush of memorabilia collectors, keen to pick up a royal souvenir with a twist.

With the announcement that the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles was being postponed from Friday until Saturday to allow the Prince to attend the funeral of the Pope, thousands of traders across the country have been left with items bearing the wrong date.

But rather than being unable to shift their stock, traders in York have reported increased demand from collectors and bargain-hunters.

Both branches of Fenton's, in Shambles, are still selling royal wedding memorabilia, and say sales have risen since the date change.

Carol Stouph, who runs the shop at the top of the historic street, said items had been flying off the shelves.

She said: "I've sold more today than yesterday. The change of date has definitely had an effect. One local man came in and bought four mugs, two shot glasses and two thimbles, and all morning people have been buying things."

At the other branch at the bottom end of the street, Carol's husband, Jim, reported similarly high sales.

"Apparently anything with the eighth rather than the ninth will be more valuable," he said.

"From a collector's point of view, the eighth seems to be the more important date.

"I can't see the logic in the difference between the eighth and the ninth. Perhaps the fact that was the date they had chosen makes it special to some people."

Mr Stouph said a lot of customers had been foreign tourists to York, with Americans and Australians in particular snapping up mugs, plates, thimbles and shot glasses.

Kitty Burton, visiting York from Louisiana in the USA, bought a shot glass and said: "A friend told me she wanted something with their faces on it, and I saw this. I don't know if it will be more collectable now the date has changed though."

Updated: 10:23 Wednesday, April 06, 2005