TWO new initiatives have been introduced by the newly-formed Hidden Secrets of York group.

The group consists of four of York's smaller visitor attractions, Barley Hall, the Richard III Museum, Micklegate Bar Museum and the newly refurbished Eboracum Roman Bathhouse.

Its purpose is to encourage visitors to discover areas of York's history that they may miss out on when coming to the city.

Initiative one ensures that anyone visiting one of the four attractions receives a ticket (which includes a small map) entitling them to half price admission to all the other three.

The ticket allows up to four adults/seniors and up to four children to take advantage of the offer. Furthermore, the ticket is valid indefinitely.

Initiative two is called "Visiting Friends and Relatives" (VFR).

VFR allows any York resident to enter any of the attractions free, if accompanied by visiting friends or relatives who pay to go round the attraction (one resident per visitor). The half-price ticket can be used in conjunction with the VFR offer.

Mike Bennett, the Richard III Museum manager, said: "the main purpose of VFR is to actively encourage residents to bring visiting friends/relatives to the smaller attractions. I've always believed that visitors tend to feel that they've 'done' York when they've seen the major attractions. Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth."

Updated: 11:05 Tuesday, April 13, 2004