THESE York residents got up early today to ensure they got tickets for this year's Carols In Kirkgate, at the Castle Museum, York.

All funds raised at the concerts, set in the museum's atmospheric Victorian street, will go to the Lord Mayor's Christmas Cheer Fund, to be distributed to local causes. First in the queue was David Meek, of Badger Hill. He said: "I've been coming here for the past 20 years. It's absolutely unique."

Tickets, costing £6.50 or £4.75 concessions, will be open to non-York residents tomorrow.

Updated: 11:19 Monday, November 12, 2001