A four-pronged attack is being launched to secure the recovery of York business following the floods.

A top-level meeting of retail, council and business chiefs was held at the Evening Press and thisisyork offices yesterday to thrash out the plan.

Under the theme "York's Here!" the action plan will project a positive message to the region, the country and the world that York is back in business for shoppers and tourists.

The four immediate action points are to:

* Run an extensive campaign to promote the city to reinforce the normal Yuletide York activities

* Encourage local people to come into York to shop

* Organise prize draws and competitions to attract people throughout the country

* Advertise the city's attractions next week both regionally and nationally.

City of York Council immediately pledged £10,000 towards the York's Here! campaign. The promotion will cost about £30,000 to succeed and other funding is being investigated.

The moves follow intense criticism from local businesses about the messages to stay away from York during the floods crisis.

A competition to win a luxury weekend in York will be offered to all Newsquest papers, reaching ten million readers nationwide. The Evening Press and thisisyork are part of the Newsquest group.

After the meeting, Roland Harris, chief executive of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "This was a positive meeting which brought together a number of people who are concerned and very keen to re-establish business as normal in York.

"We aim to attract visitors and shoppers back to York as soon as possible. The pre-Christmas period is very important and we are anxious to offer every help and support."

Coun Carol Wallace, the council's executive member for economic development, said today: "The council is pleased to give its full commitment to this campaign to support the business community and is able to make £10,000 available from the economic development budget towards the planned activity.

"It is good to see so many people working together to overcome recent problems - this latest initiative complementing the clean-up campaign which is already providing direct help for those communities directly affected by the floods."