TV HISTORIAN Michael Wood, the man chosen to replace Magnus Magnusson as the new voice of Jorvik, today opened the revamped attraction after completion of its £5 million face-lift.

With the help of the Lord Mayor of York, Coun Shan Braund, Mr Wood, best-selling author, and writer and presenter of many critically-acclaimed TV series and TV films, used a sword to cut the ribbon and reopen the popular attraction to the public.

Mr Wood's voice is the one visitors to the new Jorvik will hear as they travel around the life-like reconstruction in the new flying time cars.

Other new features include lifelike figures, animatronics and extra "pongy" smells to make Viking York in AD975 a truly multi-sensory experience.

rebecca.gilbert@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 10:41 Saturday, April 07, 2001