From our archives:

85 years ago

Excitement was caused at York Station, when a building belonging to the London and North Eastern Railway Co, on the west side of the No 14 platform, burst into flames.

One section of the building that was constructed of wood was practically burnt out.

Railway police, fireman and employees tackled the flames with a hose until the arrival of the York City fire brigade.

No inconvenience was caused to railway traffic, although people travelling by trains in the middle of the day had a good view of the fire from carriage windows.

In other news with the growing popularity of swimming in the town, Darlington Water Committee had decided to keep the municipal swimming bath open during the months.

50 years ago

Down with a bump came the price of chocolates and sweets, in York, as all over the country, after the Restrictive Practices Court in London gave a judgment ending resale price maintenance on chocolate and sugar confectionery products.

Within minutes of the announcement of the court’s decision, supermarkets and grocery chains revealed big cuts in prices.

The former manager of the Singer Sewing Machine Shop in Coney Street, York, Mr Laurence Dearing, had died after a short illness at his home in Nottingham and hundreds of children had the time of their lives when York Youth Action opened their adventure playground at the Homestead.

Old tyres and an old photograph were the star attractions for imaginative playing, with an old door serving as a raft on the paddling pool.

20 years ago

A serious accident had brought the A64 to a standstill for the second time in 24 hours, prompting renewed calls to turn the road into a dual carriageway.

The three-vehicle pile-up occurred at 7.20am near the turning for Huttons Ambo.

York’s new aquatic fun palace, Water World, had made a big splash in its first week of opening, with a tidal wave of visitors.

The pool had to close its doors as hundreds queued to try out the water flumes, tidal adventure, wave pool and lazy river.

More than 1,000 fun-seekers a day had flowed into the leisure pool so far, but as the first day of the school holidays approached the complex had reached bursting point, with manager Claire Kendrick closing the doors and advising them to come back another time.