STUDENTS were labelled York's "best ambassadors" in a debate over their relative value to city life.

Dianne Willcocks, principal at York St John College, paid the tribute at the latest Without Walls Festival Of Ideas debate - Do Students Add Value To The Life Of The City?

She told the meeting: "Students are York's best ambassadors because not only do they come back, but they bring their families back which is great for the tourism industry.

"Our local job market needs to enable students to live and work in the city."

Jacqui Tesselment, programme manager for York Millennium Volunteers, said more than 1,000 York students took time out from their studies and hectic social lives to help the local community.

"They've made a considerable impact on the community," she said.

Andy Smith, a professor at York St John College, said learning institutions should teach students not only how to earn a living, but also how to live a life.

He said he respected the stand many students took against the war with Iraq.

"They can revolt, but also have been revolting," he said.

"Sometimes students get drunk and do silly things and we must find ways of managing that.

"There are about 27,000 students in York and the city benefits from them."

Darrell Buttery, chairman of York Civic Trust, told the meeting: "Students give tremendous value to the city - I think that is beyond doubt.

"In order to get the best out of them, York people need to be very welcoming."

An elderly woman, who moved to York city centre seven years ago, said the university should be based more within the city walls.

"I want the opportunity to rub shoulders with some students," she said.

"They're all out in some big campus away from the city centre and I find that intolerable.

"I want students living next door to me within the city walls."

The debate was organised by Higher York, a partnership of the University of York, York College, York St John College and Askham Bryan College.

Updated: 10:52 Wednesday, July 30, 2003