A BOOK set during York’s Festival Of Angels, when the city’s ancient streets become a winter wonderland, is being sold to raise funds for the annual event this weekend.

The thriller, written by York author Anne Sikking, tells the story of a pub landlord, a reclusive sound engineer and police constable who find themselves embroiled in a local drugs trafficking scandal.

Over three days, against the backdrop of the Festival Of Angels, the intricate web of lies and intrigue unfolds.

Anne, a director of El Piano, one of the founders of the festival, wrote the book years ago, but publishing costs prevented it from being distributed. Now it has been made available on Amazon Kindle, for about £2.12.

The festival, set up about 11 years ago, was started by the restaurants and bars in the Quarter – a cluster of old streets, including Swinegate, Back Swinegate and Grape Lane – in the centre of York, to attract trade. It has since become one of York’s Christmas highlights and receives support from City of York Council.

Anne said: “Then, as now, we were incredibly strapped for cash. More than a decade ago, the bill was the thick end of £10,000 and, in the beginning, unlike now, there was no support for it. So came the bright idea for a thriller set in York, believing this would generate interest and cash. The cash, however, never materialised in sufficient quantities to meet the publishing costs and the book itself was shot full of printing errors.

“In 2011 we were offered a chance to publish on Amazon Kindle. To our delight the book sells. No print costs, no postage, and no flawed books gathering dust in the corner. Best of all electronic books are cheaper than chips.”

The Festival Of Angels will take place this weekend in The Quarter, featuring ice-sculptures, stalls, outdoor food and drink, street entertainment and snow showers. Children and families can also visit Father Christmas and follow the fancy dress Parade of Angels on Sunday.