The new Jorvik has provided more than one experience of time travel, as York people have found themselves spun back to a previous era.

The sight of the lines of people snaking their way around Coppergate has taken residents back more than a decade, recalling the queues the historical attraction drew when it first opened.

Jorvik's director of operations and marketing, Juliana Delaney, said the lines of people hoping to travel rather further back in time - about a thousand years or so, to the days of the Viking city itself - were "a queuing wonder". While not releasing exact figures yet, they have certainly been getting more than 2,500 visitors a day.

Juliana believes that, at its peak, the former Jorvik received about 3,200 to 3,600 in a day, but it had opened for longer hours than at present.

She said they would consider extending the new Jorvik's opening hours if demand continues, which could have a beneficial effect on other local businesses by encouraging people to stay overnight in the city.

"We are delighted by the popularity of Jorvik - we have never doubted it," Juliana added.

The York Archaeological Trust, which owns Jorvik, is also delighted and any surplus funds from the high visitor numbers will go back into the charity.

Juliana stressed that actual queuing times have shortened, and there is a pre-booking line on 01904 543403, so people can beat the queue, for a higher entry fee.

She said they are also applying customer care techniques to make all visitors feel they are "our most important".

The attraction has undergone a radical £4.8m transformation. Modern technology, film and moving exhibits transport people back to 975AD, when a new Viking city was growing out of the foundations of the old Jorvik.

Updated: 12:23 Friday, April 20, 2001