RESIDENTS and visitors to York are today celebrating the northern way of life, as people across the region take part in Yorkshire Day festivities.

In York, the historic event was being marked in traditional fashion, with the reading of the Declaration of Integrity at the city's four gates.

The declaration, in Latin, Old English, Old Norse and modern English, is read to the West Riding, North Riding, City of York and East Riding in turn.

Elsewhere in York, the maize maze at Grimston Bar had Guy Fawkes in the stocks, with visitors invited to throw wet sponges at him.

And throughout the region, locals were preparing to celebrate the day by waving flags and enjoying traditional Yorkshire fare.

Katy Rowan, 31, who is set to move to York, said: "I'll probably be working, but it's definitely important to celebrate the Yorkshire way of life. The best way is to go for a good old day at the pub, with Yorkshire pints and a lunch."

Ian and Christine Grimes, from Sheffield, said they too would be celebrating. Ian said people's openness and honesty were the best things about Yorkshire, and said: "We'll be marking the occasion with a drink and getting the flags out."

Jim Stouph, manager of Fenton's, Shambles, said Yorkshire people had a right to be proud, and said he would be marking the day with a Yorkshire pudding dinner.

"The good things about Yorkshire people are they are very honest, and very friendly, and very straight-forward," he said. "They don't try to put on airs and graces - they just say what they mean which is good."

York City steward Barry Collins, 66, of Walmgate, said he would be spending his Yorkshire Day at KitKat Crescent for the Minstermen's match against Sheffield Wednesday, and he encouraged others to do likewise. "It's a good chance to get out and celebrate with a match between North and South Yorkshire," he said.

Newgate Market butcher Beau Johnson, 27, said it was good to celebrate the quirks of Yorkshire life, such as welly-throwing, as well as the good Yorkshire men and women.

:: We took to the streets of York to find out what people thought of Yorkshire Day, and how they would be celebrating

David Swain, a butcher in Newgate market: "It's good for business. There's nothing like getting a bit of extra income. Yorkshire's definitely worth celebrating, but if I'm being honest I probably won't do very much."

Denis Fletcher, an engineer from Osbaldwick, said: "It's important to celebrate the Yorkshire way of life, but I won't be doing anything very special - I'll be working hard like all true Yorkshiremen."

Jim Stouph, manager of Fenton's in Shambles: "The main thing is to meet with relatives and friends, and at least recognise it's a special day. Yorkshire has a particular tradition, probably more than other counties do."

Updated: 08:29 Monday, August 01, 2005