FLYING a kite and sliding on ice are all favourite British pursuits, but they are all illegal.

Thousands of archaic laws are still on the statute books, and this month an exhibition about some of the stranger pieces of legislation still in existence is being held in London.

Did you know that it is illegal to fire a cannon within a certain distance of someone's home? Or that it is still illegal to put up a clothes line across a street? As for beating your carpets outside - forget it.

Along with flying kites or using a sledge to enjoy ice or snow, both are illegal under legislation in the Town Police Clauses Act of 1847. The Act only allows one small concession to housewives: doormats may be beaten or shaken before 8am.

But one outdated law the exhibition is not likely to include is an infamous York legend - today dismissed as an "urban myth" by a member of the York city archives team.

The much-told story has it that shooting a Scotsman with a bow and arrow is perfectly legal, under certain circumstances, in our fair city.

But according to an archives spokeswoman, this alleged "by-law" is nothing but bunkum. "We've been asked so many times in the past about this," she said.

"There's nothing in the index books - there are lots of people who will have looked through the records looking for it, and looking through the books for other things.

"If it was there, they would have found out by now.

"It's an urban myth, but it may be true of other cities. I read somewhere that you could do the same thing in Chester."

Since 1965, more than 2,000 obsolete laws have been repealed, but many have remained on the statute books for centuries.

The material for the London exhibition comes from the Law Society library's Statute collections, dating from 1603 to 1898.

Still on statute are more than 4,000 public and general Acts, 11,000 local Acts and 13,000 private Acts, dating from before 1801.

Other legal curiosities include The Licensing Act from 1872, which states that you must not be drunk in charge of a horse, cow or steam engine.

You must also be careful if you find a whale washed up on the beach. To this day, all whales which end up on the British coastline have to be offered to the Crown, and cannot be disposed of without the Sovereign's consent.

The exhibition is being held in the Law Society's library in Chancery Lane until February 10.

Did you know it is still illegal to hang your washing across the street, or slide on snow? LUCY STEPHENS asked York shoppers.

Laurence Bradley, 18, a York College student from Bootham, said: "No, I didn't know. I think they're silly, outdated laws, and I think they should be brought up to date."

Iain McKenzie, 19, a chef, of Stamford Bridge, said: "I didn't know any of them were illegal in the first place. My mum takes her carpet outside and if there's stuff on it she'll whack it on the floor."

Ann Rafton, of Osbaldwick, York, said: "I didn't know. I would have assumed that they would have been repealed by now, or just ignored. I think they're a bit quaint, we could leave them as they are."

Samantha James-He, 24, a train planning consultant of Acomb, York, said: "I didn't know. I think it's a good idea to repeal the laws, just so then you know whether or not you're following the law."

Updated: 09:35 Wednesday, January 18, 2006