A vision of Viking York as a major European city is to be stamped all over the soon-to-be transformed Jorvik Centre.

Archaeologists who worked to unearth the Coppergate site have been frustrated to learn that many visitors to the existing attraction leave with the impression that York was a village or settlement a thousand years ago.

So the new centre will be called The Viking City of Jorvik when it re-opens next Easter.

Speaking to York's tourism community at the York Tourism Bureau's annual meeting, Peter Addyman, director of the York Archaeological Trust, explained how the new centre will enhance York.

He said: "Over the last 16 years the centre has been something of an engine for York tourism, and it should continue to be for another 16 years at least.

"But we had our 12 millionth visitor this year and that amount of people wears out a lot of carpet. And our time cars have clocked up 75,000 miles.

"We now have an opportunity to put right a lot of what we got wrong after the Coppergate dig. We know a lot more about the site and we can make sure that the next generation gets its Vikings correct.

"The idea of Jorvik as a village is completely wrong. It was one of the largest cities in Europe, with some 10,000 inhabitants, at that time and far too big for a village even by contemporary standards.

"That's why we have made the name of the new centre The Viking City of York."

The current Viking centre will close on October 31, with an intended relaunch date of April 14 next year - just in time for Easter.