DON'T tell the bookies, but it's a sure bet that visitors to an historic area of York this weekend will be treated to a white Christmas.

But the snow falling on Fern Dunn, from Oscars, isn't exactly natural - it comes from a machine specially bought for this year's Festival of Angels, which started today in The Quarter, off Swinegate.

Fern's mother, Oscars co-proprietor Sally Dunn, can't wait for the third annual festival to get going: "It's the only outdoor ice festival in the UK, and it's always popular with locals."

Tomorrow, as part of the celebrations, the Rev Graham Hutchinson, of the Elim Pentecostal Church, Swinegate - the Quarter's only church - will hold an ecumenical carol service.

The festival runs from noon until 6pm today and tomorrow.

Updated: 12:04 Saturday, December 14, 2002