THOUSANDS of York residents enjoyed VIP treatment at the city's tourist attractions, as part of the Residents First weekend.

Fifty of the city's museums, tours and attractions opened their doors or provided their services free of charge to local people, to show them what attracts four million tourists a year to York.

York Dungeon, Barley Hall, Clifford's Tower, the Guildhall, Jorvik, York Castle Museum and the Yorkshire Museum all took part in the event, and there were also special deals in some of the city's best restaurants.

People could also enjoy bus tours around York, boat trips on the River Ouse and guided walking tours of the city.

York hosted its first Oriental market at the Coppergate Centre, with food stalls, acupuncture and herbalists, as well as stands selling souvenirs.

History came alive at York Dungeon, with bosses reporting queues down the street, while visitors to the Yorkshire Museum of Farming were greeted by Vikings and Romans.

Museum secretary Amanda Clarke said: "Sunday was a particularly good day, when I think the weather helped. People enjoyed the living history sites, and we had a Derwent Valley diesel train running too."

York Model Railway manager Mike Heron said lots of residents had visited over the weekend. "We've got new parts to the exhibition such as the new monorail section and everybody seemed to really enjoy that," he said.

Stuart Hall, owner of Tricksters Lane and Mason's Bistro Bar, both in Fossgate, said diners had enjoyed the Residents First menu, and offers would continue throughout the week.

The Evening Press opened its doors to the public to show people how the newspaper is produced each day.

Evening Press deputy editor Bill Hearld said he showed four tours around the headquarters in Walmgate.

"Lots of people have had the opportunity to look around the building on one of the first tours for a number of years, showing how the paper is put together from reporter through to distribution," he said.

"They were particularly interested in the processes to produce the paper and the printing press.

"People have been really interested, and it was good to give them an opportunity to look around; we sometimes take it for granted but it's an industry which people are interested in."

Tourism brings almost £300 million a year to York and helps to create more than 9,000 jobs.

Residents First weekend was supported by CPP and First Stop York, the city's tourism partnership.

Updated: 10:35 Monday, January 31, 2005