YORK missed out today on a visit that never was by the ex-President of the United States Bill Clinton.

Mr Clinton was to be given a short, informal tour of York Minster before going on to give a speech at a business conference in Harrogate.

But Minster Chapter Clerk Martin Vevers said the visit was cancelled because his plane was delayed.

The hush-hush tour, which was to be given by The Dean of York, the Very Reverend Raymond Furnell, was arranged three days ago after Mr Clinton expressed a keen interest in York's most famous landmark.

Mr Vevers told the Evening Press: "We're obviously disappointed that Mr Clinton couldn't come. It generated a great deal of excitement and anticipation among the people who knew about it.

"It was going to be a very private visit lasting about 30 minutes.

"The offer is open to him if he ever wished to come again."

Updated: 12:21 Friday, June 08, 2001