"Deal with your financial reality" - that's the message to York residents from TV financial guru Alvin Hall.

The bowtie-sporting money expert told a packed audience at Borders bookshop that only when this happens can people take control of their money matters.

Fans filled the Davygate store to hear Alvin speak on pensions, shares, investments and banking as part of a tour promoting his latest book, Your Money Or Your Life.

Alvin, who presents a BBC2 series of the same name, said: "Always save. If you can, keep three months worth of living expenses because you never can tell what's going to happen."

Updated: 10:43 Thursday, May 29, 2003