York's positive approach to its younger visitors has been recognised with almost 50 organisations winning child friendly awards from the National Childbirth Trust.

The awards, which are organised through the City of York Council and independently monitored by the trust, are made in four areas and cover pushchair access, nappy changing and breast feeding facilities, children's menus and play areas.

Councillor Carol Wallace, chairwoman of the women's working group, said the success of local businesses in earning the awards reflected the warm welcome the city extended to visiting families.

"York has a lot to offer children and families," she said. "The Child Friendly York Award scheme aims to make visits to the city more relaxing and enjoyable for them.

"It is also an opportunity for organisations and businesses to attract more people to the services they provide."

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Mick Bradley, presented a host of the city's cafs, tourist attractions, hotels and leisure facilities with their Child Friendly York Award certificates at the Barbican Centre.

Parents can obtain details of the award winners from the 1998 Child Friendly York Guide, which is available free of charge from tourist information centres, libraries and council offices.

The winners who passed in all four categories of access, facilities, play provision and knife and fork: Murton Park; National Railway Museum; Treasurer's House; Barbican Centre.

Passed in one category or more:

Abbey National; Bettys Tea Rooms; Blake Head Vegetarian Cafe; Bootham Bar Hotel; Bronte Guest House; Browns of York; Caffe Uno; Community Services, Acomb; City of York Council Consumer Advice Centre; City of York Council Environment and Development Services Reception; City of York Council Finance Centre; Debenhams; The Disney Store; Edmund Wilson SwimmingPool; Foxwood Community Centre; The Healing Clinic; The Hobbits Hotel; Hush Puppies; Jarvis Hotels: Abbey Park Hotel; Marks & Spencer, Coppergate; Marks & Spencer; McDonalds; Megabowl; Mothercare; National Trust Tea Rooms; Pizza Hut; The Rock Church; Sainsbury's; Salvation Army; Spurriergate Centre; St Andrew's Church; Staymor Guest House; Swallow Hotel; Taylor's Tea Rooms; Tesco, Clifton Moor; Tesco Askham Bar; Wackers; Waterworld; Yearsley Swimming Pool; York Castle Museum Coffee Bar; York Minster; York Model Railway; York Station; Yorkshire Museum.

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