NEW versions of Visit York's official sightseeing pass have been launched this week.

Two versions of the York Pass are now available, including the one-day York City Pass, which offers entry to 25 attractions, and the two, three or six-day York & Beyond Explorer Pass, which gives entry to 50 attractions.

While the day pass includes entry to York Minster, York's Chocolate Story and JORVIK, among others, the York & Beyond Explorer is aimed at visitors spending more time in the area, including entry to Castle Howard, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Helmsley Castle, Helmsley Walled Garden, Rievaulx Abbey, Sea Life Scarborough, Scarborough Castle and North Bay Railway.

Eight new attractions have joined the pass, including Dalby Forest, Pickering Castle, Yorkshire Air Museum, Stillingfleet Gardens, The World of James Herriot, Black Sheep Brewery, North Bay Railway and BOBH Holidays, with anyone buying a pass entitled to a free pizza or pasta at Ask in York.

Paul Whiting, head of Visit York, said: "By inspiring visitors to stay longer we aim to increase the value of every single visitor coming to York. Our ambition is to grow the value of tourism and initiatives such as the York Pass will help us to do that. The pass will also help raise the profile of just how much there is to explore beyond York."

A new digital ‘mobile pass’ has also been introduced, which can be emailed directly on purchase, so visitors can use the pass from their mobile phone.

To find out more, go to yorkpass.com