YORK will welcome campaigners, academics and architects from four continents next month when it hosts the UK’s first Towards Carfree Cities conference.

Organised by the national research and campaign group Carfree UK, the four-day event will include sessions on freight in carfree areas, DIY street makeovers, social marketing and the psychology of car dependence.

Dr Barbara Schmucki, of the York-based Institute for Railway Studies and Transport History, will give a keynote speech on pedestrians and their status on modern streets.

The conference will run from June 28 to July 1 and includes an open day on June 29 for York residents which will end with a film night and panel discussion with conference delegates at York’s City Screen cinema.

Volunteers are still required to help with the running of the conference – anyone interested should email york@worldcarfree.net