UNIVERSITY students are campaigning to reinstate a "gay pride" festival in the city.

Nick da Costa, member of York University's Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) committee, said he hoped to put on a festival this July.

But he acknowledged that it would be a "massive undertaking".

Gay festivals are not new to York. Last year, more than 3,000 lesbians flocked to the city for the third annual women's book festival - run by Libertas of Gillygate.

In 1996, hundreds of gay, lesbian and transsexual people attended Proud In The Park, in Rowntree Park.

Since then, the event has died out.

Mr da Costa said: "The sad fact is that there's not very much that's specifically gay-friendly here."

The proposed festival would be called Beyond Boundaries - Rainbow Rally 2004.

Its organisers are to meet representatives of gay rights charity MESMAC, and York's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-gender (LGBT) Forum.

They have also written to arts funding bodies to raise cash for the event.

Rob Wannerton, of gay and bisexual men's charity MESMAC, said: "The Libertas festival last year showed that people from around the country will come to things in York.

Tom Raines, of the LGBT Forum, agreed that there was a lack of gay social facilities in the city.

He said: "There hasn't been anything like this happening in York for quite some time.

"It would be nice to have an event like this that brings the gay community together in York - I'd really like to see it happen."

Anyone who would like to get involved in the Beyond Boundaries Rainbow Rally should email bbrr2004@hotmail.com

Updated: 09:45 Saturday, February 07, 2004