LEISURE bosses are set to lead four-way talks for another three years of top-class snooker in York.

The UK Snooker Championships, due to start at the Barbican next month, is now into the final year of its three-year York contract.

Fans of the game and its top players have hailed the Barbican as an excellent snooker venue, for both its facilities and electric atmosphere.

Charlie Croft, City of York Council's assistant director for lifelong learning and leisure, said talks would begin when snooker supremos arrived in York to prepare for the tournament.

The council, World Snooker, the BBC and Absolute Leisure will all sit down at the negotiating table.

Mr Croft said: "The aim is to put World Snooker together with Absolute Leisure and the BBC.

"I understand they (World Snooker) are really keen to come back."

Absolute Leisure is the company that will run the Barbican's auditorium when the centre's planned revamp is complete.

A World Snooker spokesman said some talks had already taken place about the Barbican contract.

He said: "The Barbican Centre has proved an excellent venue for the UK Championship since 2001. Support for snooker in York is strong and many players have commented on the great atmosphere in the arena. The venue also has very good facilities for players and officials."

Shane Chalmers, head of Total Leisure Management, the council department that runs York's public leisure facilities, also said talks had been ongoing.

"We would love to have the snooker back for another three years. We would push for a longer term deal if we could. There is no reason why it can't come back to York."

Next year's tournament would come during the middle of the revamp of the Barbican Centre. The council has previously indicated that the championships could be timed around construction works.

A council spokeswoman said today: "Having the UK Snooker Championship in York has been a real boost for the Barbican Centre and the city as a whole."

Tickets for the snooker finals are said to be selling fast.

For details, or to book, phone the Barbican box office on 01904 656688.

Updated: 11:23 Monday, October 27, 2003