SINGING dogs, outdoor pianists and open air guitarists are to be put through their paces under new plans to make York buskers audition for their jobs.

Only accomplished musicians and talented artists will be given permission to play as city centre bosses move to make street entertainers clean up their act.

Council leaders want to draw a dividing line between genuine buskers who add to the city's atmosphere and beggars who discourage visitors and intimidate shoppers.

Buskers of all persuasions will have to demonstrate their skills when they apply for a compulsory new badge scheme that begins next month.

Paul Barrett, city centre manager, said: "I don't profess to be Simon Cowell or any of the other Pop Idol judges but I can recognise whether someone can sing or not."

A similar registration scheme in London has been hailed as a success for improving the quality of entertainment and reducing the amount of time police spend moving illegal beggars.

City leaders are injecting new life into a crack down on beggars after complaints from shopkeepers, businesses and visitors.

They may also introduce designated busking areas in popular performance spots like St Sampson's Square, St Helen's Square and Parliament Street.

Mr Barrett said: "We're trying to draw a dividing line between beggars and buskers. We encourage street entertainment as part of York's history and attraction.

"We don't want to be heavy handed, we just want to make the situation more manageable. We get a lot more complaints about beggars than we do about buskers."

Carole Patrick, of Safer York Partnership, said: "It's important that we distinguish between people who are genuinely busking and who add life and vibrancy to the city, and those that don't."

Pianist Kieran White, 42, who has become a familiar face on the streets of York over the past four years, said the badge scheme was a good idea.

He said: "I'm happy to audition, but I don't see that beggars are doing any harm.

"People can tell the difference between someone who's playing music and someone who's begging for change."

There are thought to be between six and 12 regular buskers in York, although the number increases over the summer. Some buskers travel into the city from as far away as Thirsk.

Busking is not illegal, but if someone in York complains council enforcement officers will ask them to move on. If they refuse they could face arrest for obstructing the highway which carries a fine of up to £1,000.

Earlier this year community officers swooped on beggars with undercover benefits officers to see if they were failing to declare their extra income.

Antisocial behaviour warning notices were also handed out, telling beggars that their behaviour would not be tolerated and telling them where they could find support.

Updated: 10:51 Friday, November 19, 2004