IT'S your city - enjoy it! That was the message to York residents this weekend, as more than 50 attractions around the city threw their doors open to residents at discounted rates.

Parliament Street was packed with people enjoying musical entertainment from city-based party band Huge on Saturday afternoon.

Singer Big Ian said: "I think Residents 1st gives something back to the people of York.

"It's been a fantastic day. I think it's things like this that make York different.

"We've had about 2,000 people of all age groups, from little kids to grandmas, out here having a great time and singing along.

"It's just been so much fun."

The weekend was organised by the York Tourism Partnership, which includes City of York Council, York Tourism Bureau and York Hospitality Association.

Debbie Lovatt, the council's tourism development officer, was manning the Residents 1st information point in Parliament Street.

She said: "I think it's been very successful. We've have a lot of positive feedback. There's been a great buzz around the city centre."

Tour groups were shown around the Evening Press' Walmgate offices as part of the weekend.

Evening Press deputy editor Bill Hearld said: "We decided to throw open our doors to readers for Residents 1st last year, and it was an amazing success.

"Again this year, we were oversubscribed many times over.

"We are a local community paper - and proud of it. It's good that readers are so interested in how we put together the Evening Press for them every day."

Retired commercial designer Dale Minks, of Nunnery Lane, York, said: "It's brilliant.

"I've been writing letters to the Evening Press for years now, but this is the first time I've been round and seen the whole set up."

Meanwhile, staff at the official Lord Mayor's residence, the Mansion House, in St Helen's Square, showed people around the elegant Georgian townhouse, which is not usually open to the public at this time of year.

Updated: 09:24 Monday, January 30, 2006