Streams of shoppers swamped York at the weekend as the city bounced back from the effects of floods crisis.

With the emergency authorities' "stay away" message long repealed, the city centre again was a sea of shoppers.

Parliament Street and Coney Street were awash with crowds, in stark contrast to the ghost-town scenes witnessed in the aftermath of the floods.

The influx of people also brought a steady flow of custom to the many stalls and attractions on offer at the seasonal St Nicholas Fayre.

A torrential downpour at one point on Saturday threatened to dampen the retail recovery, but with Christmas fast approaching and presents to be bought, shoppers reached for their brollies and soldiered on.

A healthy dose of winter sunshine on Sunday afternoon saw the city mobbed again.

Roland Harris, chairman of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "Over the last ten years, the St Nicholas Fayre weekend has always been a very important time for the city's retail.

"It does look very much as if we have been successful in getting people back into the city and that's very encouraging. We need to continue that throughout the rest of the festive season and into the new year."