RETAILERS in York are calling for more to be done to promote the city’s offering during key events off the back of slow trade over the marathon weekend.

During the latest meeting of the York Retail Forum, members reported mixed trading performance from Sunday, when the city hosted the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon.

While food and drink outlets reported some of the best figures of the year, shops struggled as it was feared people were put off coming into the city centre because of the event.

Retailers agreed the forum needed to look at doing more to promote the city and highlight that disruption caused by events such as the marathon would be minimal, and not extend throughout the entire day.

Frank Wood, chairman of York Retail Forum, said: “In the run up to these events people locally only really hear about road closures and the disruption they cause. When you come in on the ring road all you can see is signs saying roads will be closed.

“We need to do more to say we are still open for trade, and make sure we promote our offering for people coming in for these events and people who aren’t interested in them.”