One of York's smallest museums is to become a leading light in the campaign to brighten up the city over Christmas.

The Regimental Museum of The Royal Dragoon Guards, in Tower Street, will donate an entire day's takings to the Lord Mayor's Christmas lights fund which will be matched pound for pound by the council.

Following the lead of the Evening Press' £1,000 donation to the fund, all the takings from a special Sunday opening on June 21 will be spent on the Christmas lights. Captain Alan Henshall, co-curator of the museum, which spans 300 years of regimental history, wants to encourage as many people as possible to visit on the day, knowing that their entrance fee will help York to attract more Christmas shoppers.

He said: "I think it makes people happier to come in to York to shop as it is part of the festive spirit."

Captain Henshall is encouraging local residents to help out by boosting the attendance figures on the day.

He said: "Normally we have about 40 or 50 people visit each day.

"It is down to the local residents to come along, the more the better."

The museum has been restored to its former glory with the replacement of the two flagpoles damaged by vandals last month.

Entrance fees are £2 adults and £1 OAPs and children. Children under five can enter free. The museum will be open from 9am until 4.30pm on June 21.

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