PROOF that the closure of Terry's took the city by surprise comes in the York Tourism Bureau mailshot.

Sent out to 150 British media contacts, the covering letter begins by comparing New York with the original.

"The Big Apple or the Chocolate Orange?" writes Kay Hyde, public relations manager of York Tourism Bureau.

"Who needs the hassle and expense of crossing the Atlantic for a short break in the Big Apple when your very own Chocolate Orange is just two hours away by train and just as much fun?

"The two cities - New York, New York and the 'new' York of North Yorkshire - historic home of Terry's Chocolate Orange - have obvious connections of course... see our enclosed fact sheet."

Printing deadlines meant neither the letter nor the fact sheet could be amended to take account of Terry's shock announcement that it was taking the Chocolate Orange, and all the other York-made treats, abroad.

Kay said the press packs "were already printed and packed up by the time we heard the announcement".

She said there are no plans to send out clarifications "as the press packs contain lots of reasons to visit York and the reference to the Chocolate Orange is still relevant. York is still widely known as the home of the Chocolate Orange and has a long history of chocolate making.

"History and heritage are the key reasons for visiting York and the chocolate making tradition goes back hundreds of years," Kay added.

"It is a very important part of York's heritage and we would like to see this tradition carried on in the city for hundreds of years to come."

THE press pack makes many more comparisons between old and New York, pitching the Statue of Liberty against the statue of Constantine, and department store Bloomingdales against Browns.

To which the Diary helpfully adds: "In New York you have until you are on the streets to be mugged. In York, you are mugged by the city council in the comfort of every car park."

THE Diary has ears everywhere. Last Friday, they overheard a woman who was behind the tills at the main Marks & Spencer in York.

"I have been married for 18 years," she was saying.

"I got divorced on a Friday, fell pregnant the following Friday and got married the following Friday - Valentine's Day."

What a fortnight. If the M&S woman would like to tell the Diary more, we're all ears...

CROTCHET corner. Graham Metcalf, one of the founder members of top York Sixties group the Pathfinders, which the Diary helped to reunite a few months back, is launching a new band.

Called Jeriko, their debut gig is next Thursday, May 13, at the York Health Services Social Club, White Cross Road, off Haxby Road.

Graham will be playing on guitar, dobro, pedal steel and banjo.

He is joined by Lesley Chambers, well known around York as an outstanding female vocalist; Andy Stones, a talented young singer, songwriter and guitarist; Charlie Mountain, another very well known singer and bass player; and experienced drummer Alf Barnes.

Jeriko will be playing a selection of covers and some original material, which Graham describes as "broadly country-rock based".

Updated: 09:27 Thursday, May 06, 2004