AMBITIOUS plans have been revealed by the Lord Mayor of York to mark York 800 by inviting 800 elderly guests for Christmas lunch.

The Lord Mayor, Coun Keith Hyman , is to invite older residents to no fewer than four separate receptions in the Assembly Rooms on November 26 and December 3.

Now he is calling for local businesses to show their support by donating £500 each to help fund the Christmas Cheer events.

“This is a fantastic annual event for local residents, which we are trying to make even more special this year with a York800 theme and we are asking local businesses to help us achieve this,” he said.

Shoe company Pavers have already donated £500, while Tesco Extra Askham Bar has agreed to provide 800 mince pies and 800 Christmas crackers.

Christmas Cheer meals are held for elderly residents every year but on a much smaller scale, and the target of 800 guests is an increase of 600 people on previous years. However, a further £7,500 is needed from 15 companies to cover the extra costs of the receptions.

The appeal is in addition to the support given by The York Community Carol Concert to be staged at York Barbican before Christmas and a York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir Concert next month, which both back the fund.

York 800 is a celebration of the 800th anniversary of the city being granted a Royal Charter by King John in 1212, which allowed citizens to collect and pay their annual tax to the Crown, hold their own courts and appoint a mayor, as well as trade freely, and signalled the start of local democracy in the city.

• To throw your company’s support behind the Christmas Cheer fund, phone 01904 551011 or email civicenquiries@york.gov.uk