THE Archbishop of York has welcomed calls to make St George’s Day a public holiday.

Dr John Sentamu was responding to calls from MPs made in the House of Commons to make April 23 a national holiday.

The archbishop said: “I am delighted this issue is being raised in the House of Commons – and I hope that the Government will consider giving everyone in England a day off to celebrate this wonderful patron saint.”

A recent poll by Premier Christian Media revealed 64 per cent of people in the UK were in favour of St George’s Day being made a bank holiday.