FOOTBALL art in a Fulford pub and degrees at dinnertime are just some of the courses on offer as part York Learning Festival.

The event, which aims to encourage people to get back to learning, is organised by Learning City York and will take place from Saturday to June 28 in venues across the city.

Liz McNeil, from Learning City York, said: "We hope that people living and working in York will find something of interest, whether for business or pleasure.

"If you are a visitor to York we warmly invite you to take part in the festival. We have more events than ever this year at lots of venues across the city."

Throughout the week-long festival there are a huge range of courses to try out including computing, sewing, exploring your family history and antique furniture restoration.

The University of York will be adding a dash of fun when chemistry experts show how to make a loud pop using chemicals and equipment found at home.

Passers-by in Parliament Street on Thursday can join in to see if they can work out how to mix the exact proportions of bicarbonate of soda, citric acid, and water and make them blow off the top of a small canister - at just the right moment.

Or they can jump on the three-metre keyboard, play air guitar, and create their own music thanks to the Get Hands On interactive demonstration by Immersive Media Spaces, a university spin-off company.

There will also be displays about the summer school it is running through the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth, and Green Apples, the scheme which tries to raise the aspirations of pupils whose families do not have a history of going to university.

Martial arts students will demonstrate their techniques, and sporting students will demonstrate how they help sports in the community.

Anyone who is interested should phone Future Prospects on 0800 834239 or 01904 634748 or visit at www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/learning

Updated: 09:28 Thursday, June 19, 2003