A "NORTHERN PROMS" extravaganza looks set to be staged in York during Royal Ascot week, the Evening Press can reveal.

A night of dazzling fireworks, rousing music and a spectacular light show are in the pipeline at York City's newly-renamed KitKat Crescent ground, under exciting plans drawn up by a North Yorkshire businessman.

Don Robinson, the Scarborough-based leisure entrepreneur, whose companies are funding the £100,000-plus spectacular, said he hoped the celebrity Proms concert would be the "icing on the cake" for Ascot.

As many as 100,000 people a day could flock to the city over five days in June.

Now racegoers and residents alike look set to get the chance to sing standards like Rule Britannia and Land Of Hope And Glory amid a flurry of pomp, ceremony and patriotic flagwaving.

Mr Robinson, 70, said: "We hope this concert will be something the people of York will be proud of.

"I'm a Yorkshireman, and I think Royal Ascot is fantastic for York and for Yorkshire."

Mr Robinson, former chairman of Scarborough and Hull City football clubs, has been in talks with City of York Council and York City Football Club about the musical event, planned since last October.

The Evening Press can reveal that if the June 15 family fest gets the green light - it first has to secure a licence from the City of York Council - it will be hosted by Countdown's Richard Whiteley.

Other highlights include a spectacular fireworks display and light show that will illuminate the skyline above the newly-named KitKat Crescent.

Talented musicians from a London-based classical pop orchestra are due to play, alongside four choirs boasting 200 singers. They will play classical favourites through to hits from the musicals and the charts.

Mr Robinson also revealed the concert will benefit York City Football Club, with part of the proceeds going to the Variety Club and charities supporting disabled jockeys.

Organisers have assured residents that the show would start at 7.45pm and end promptly at 10pm. Experts will be on hand to control the fireworks display.

Ticket prices and attendance figures have yet to be confirmed. If this year's event is a success, organisers hope it will become an annual fixture.

Mr Robinson owns a string of leisure companies, and previous projects include starting York Dungeon, and running Windsor Safari Park and London Dungeon.

Past promotions include organising a World XI floodlit cricket match in Sheffield and 50th anniversary VE celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall.

Welcoming the move, York City managing director Jason McGill said: "It will be a unique venue and will be extremely accessible for racegoers and visitors to the city centre. We will be continuing to work closely with Don Robin'son and City of York Council to ensure the concert is a success and we hope it may be considered as a regular annual event.

"The Prom concert will also be an important income generator for the club, and will result in increased usage of the ground and additional revenue in the closed season."

A council spokeswoman said that discussions had taken place between officers and Mr Robinson.

She said: "Any issues about traffic and noise would have to be addressed as part of the licence application process."

Updated: 12:41 Friday, January 21, 2005