IF YOU'VE got it, scream it! Well, our city has a chilling history and the screaming about it is nowhere more blood-curdling than at the York Museum in Clifford Street.

For the past 21 years it has counted its success both in cash and visitors' goosebumps as not-for-the-squeamish truths of our history are exposed to visitors who happily combine fright with delight.

The £100,000 Ghosts Of York feature is the latest flesh-crawling offering. Last year it was the Labyrinth Of The Lost and the year before that, Judgement Of The Sinners.

All are good examples why The York Dungeon is pitching for the Tourism And Hospitality Business Of The Year title.

But what is not known is that five times a year appears another ghostly character - a "mystery visitor" who swoops and snoops where few visitors do, judging the 25 staff and management there on more than 100 different criteria, ranging from the cleanliness of the toilets to the quality of the shows.

The result of that regular haunting pleases the dungeon's attractions manager Helen Douglas who has been in charge there for seven of her 17 years there.

She says: "For each of the mystery visits that we have had for the past three years, we have achieved between 95 per cent and 100 per cent rating, an achievement of which our team is rightly proud."

This, and regular action taken on public survey forms, ensures that quality performance is monitored and maintained.

Marketing is skilful. Apart from the distribution of 300,000 leaflets to hotels, supermarkets, pubs and leisure centres across Yorkshire, there are numerous promotions with high street outlets like McDonalds, Subway and Tesco with offers such as two for one, or free entry for children.

School groups are also welcomed and there is also a big emphasis on charity work, such as the BT Giant Sleepover, an annual event that raises money for Child Line.

That is something to shout - or even scream - about.