SHOPS and tourist sites in York reported mixed messages at the start of what they hope to be a bumper Easter weekend.

City traders said Good Friday takings were "brisk" as shoppers flocked to the tills.

But tourist officials admitted feeling "deflated" about the number of centralised hotel bookings taken by phone.

Della Rhodes, general manager at York Tourist Information Centre, said yesterday afternoon: "It has been a mixed day really and it does not feel as busy as last year's Good Friday.

"We would like to have seen it busier in the run up to Good Friday and brought staff in today thinking it would be exceptionally busy. Now we're a little bit deflated."

Mrs Rhodes said accommodation bookings taken by call centre staff were below expected levels, but had started picking up later on Friday as spaces filled up.

She said possible factors included mixed weather forecasts, popularity of "last-minute" deal hunting and scare stories about traffic chaos.

But Ian Carman, Marks & Spencer food manager, said the shop was slightly busier than a normal Friday, with people snapping up Easter eggs, party food and fish.

John Myers, team manager at Boots, said trade was "brisk" and chocolate eggs were scare on the shelves. "We're busy so we are very pleased," he said. "That's what we want to see - people spending money."

HMV team leader Jackie Elson said the city centre shop was "busier than expected" with more records sold than the same time last year.

Beer Ritz ale shop said trade had been fuelled by large numbers of visitors, while confectioners Maxwell and Kennedy, in Low Petergate, said after a slow start the city centre was heaving.

"Sales are going very well," said manageress Bridget Scott. "Saturday will be even busier. It's like Christmas Eve for us."

Denise Revell, deputy senior guide at the Castle Museum, said a range of new activities helped attract a "steady flow" of visitors.

A spokeswoman for Flamingo Land said it had been a "great day" at the theme park, similar to last year when attendance records were smashed.

Weather experts were expecting York to stay mainly dry over the weekend but, despite the sunshine, temperatures were expected to be cool.

Updated: 09:23 Saturday, April 10, 2004