I RECENTLY enjoyed an excellent visit Paris at a reasonable price thanks to those lovely people at GNER.

What a joy this city is, particularly the area around the Montmartre where I stayed. Patisseries, delicatessens, cafs, boulangeries and newsagents fully operational by 6.30am and still going strong at nine at night.

Whole families were out and about socialising and dining in some of the best cafes I have visited.

Parisians certainly know how to enjoy life to the full and it was interesting to notice that alcohol mostly was generally consumed with a meal or in small measures.

What I didn't see were drunks, body fluids, punch-ups and verbal abuse. Yes, there were teenagers about but it seems French teenagers have gone for the bright option.

The lads were showing off to the girls without being coarse. The girls were tittering around the boys and, although loud, it certainly wasn't intimidating. Most of the time it seemed as if the whole city was in love.

The public transport system was excellent and I was mystified why Parisians are still so pre-occupied with the car.

I have followed the binge drinking and parking charges debate in York with interest. Parking charges in Paris are much higher than York and enforcement is draconian, but still this city thrives. Why?

So York traders, parking charges aren't a threat to your businesses - Brit binge drinking culture is much more serious. I wouldn't think twice about going out at night in Paris. In York if I want to go to see a film it's nearly always a matinee performance.

York city centre after dark is somewhere I don't want to be. Someone in authority should take note.

Graham Horne,

Beech Avenue,

Bishopthorpe, York.

Updated: 10:06 Tuesday, March 23, 2004