A FILM looking back at the York 800 celebrations of 2012 will be screened in Duncombe Place tomorrow night as crowds gather near the Minster to see in the New Year.

The film will be shown between 10pm and 12.30am on a big, mobile screen that has been touring round the city to give everyone a chance to re-live major events of the year, including the Queen’s Jubilee visit, York City’s return from Wembley, the Olympic and Paralympic flames’ journeys through the city and the Mystery Plays.

But the screening may not be quite what residents were expecting when City of York Council chief executive Kersten England spoke out in November last year about her hopes for this New Year’s Eve.

She said then that a New Year community celebration might be staged near the Minster as part of the York 800 festivities, with performances taking place on a stage to give people a focal point for the countdown to midnight.

She said that as a Scot from Edinburgh, she knew what could be done on New Year’s Eve and she hoped organised activities in York might help deter antisocial behaviour on the night.

A council spokeswoman said that the screening of the film was a planned and inclusive community event for all to enjoy.

“It means that the celebration of the years events goes on longer than New Year’s Eve and is taken to different parts of the city so that everyone can have a chance to join in,” she added