They're the pride of York - and they've proved that YOU really can make a difference!

Over the last few months, ever since the successful Ecofin conference in March, a legion of public-spirited people have pledged themselves to make sure our lovely city stays that way.

Business people, school children, residents and tourism workers - they've all come up with their own schemes for sprucing up the image of York because they're proud of their city.

All of those who have taken part in the Evening Press' Proud to be York campaign can be proud of what they have achieved.

But now, from the hosts of entrants, we have whittled down the competition to just 13 finalists in four categories.

The campaign, which aims to make the city of York a more beautiful, clean and welcoming place, was launched in April in the wake of the Ecofin conference.

Many people commented on how attractive York looked during the weekend event and we decided it would be an excellent idea if the city presented its prettiest face all year round.

Support from right across the city has been overwhelming with the City of York Council, the York Tourism Board, the Inward Investment Board, the York Residents' Association and the York in Bloom committee all backing the campaign.

Evening Press editor Liz Page said: "Proud to be York has captured the imaginations of people throughout the city.

"The wide range of entries has been most impressive, and the judges will have a tough choice in deciding the winner."

The competition has been divided into four categories which are the Best School Project, sponsored by the Midland Bank; the Best Residential Project, sponsored by Do It All; the Best Tourism Project, sponsored by York Waterworks and its subsidiary York Gas; and the Best Business Project, sponsored by the Great North Eastern Railway.

The winner of each category will receive £500 and a trophy, while every entrant will be given a Proud to be York certificate.

The following businesses, schools, tourist attractions and resident groups have made it through to the final:

Schools category:

Badger Hill Primary School.

Fishergate Primary School.

Tang Hall Primary School.

Tourism category:

York Model Railway, Tea Room Square

The Regimental Museum of the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Prince of Wale's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, Tower Street.

Methodist Church, St Saviourgate, York

Business category:

Mulberry Hall, Stonegate.

The Black Swan pub, Peasholme Green

York's new public lavatory behind Monk's Bar car park

Micklegate Traders' Association

Resident category:

Carr Residents' Association

The Moss Street Community Use Group

Muncaster Residents' Association

The judges will be visiting these entries on Monday and Tuesday. The winners of each category will be announced in the Evening Press and on this website on Friday, July 31, with pictures and details of the projects carried out by all the finalists.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.