Northern Electric - one of the sponsors of York's Residents First weekend - was left in an embarrassing position when workmen cut off the electricity of one of the city's participating museums.

Just minutes before the Micklegate Bar Museum was about to open its doors to the city's residents, the 800-year-old building was plunged into darkness.

Workmen from North Electric had been working outside the building when they cut through an "old cable" forcing the museum to close.

It was several hours before staff were able to open the museum and in the meantime they had to turn away scores of visitors.

Owner David Mason, however, saw the funny side and said it proved his beliefs that the haunted building was also jinxed. "It seemed quite funny that the sponsors were responsible, but it couldn't be helped," he said.

"Rather disappointedly, we had to turn a number of people away in the morning, but when we opened at 2pm we had a an influx of visitors."

He added that they were thinking of keeping another day aside in the future for residents so they have a chance to look round free of charge.

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