COUNCIL chiefs are urging York residents to get their hands dirty - in the name of heritage.

Diggers interested in learning more about archaeology in a city teeming with Viking and Roman treasures are invited to the Merchant Adventurers' Hall tomorrow.

The council's leisure and heritage scrutiny board has organised the event in an effort to maintain York's proud archaeological tradition by increasing public access and co-ordinating groups already active in the field.

Archaeology and heritage organisations will host exhibitions and stalls to showcase their work, between 2pm and 6pm.

City of York Council scrutiny officer Hugo Laing said anybody was welcome to attend the event, whatever their experience.

He said: "We're really keen to get as many people along as possible."

Updated: 09:38 Monday, March 29, 2004