A FLAME symbolising world peace has arrived in York.

The World Peace Flame, first lit in 1999, was ceremonially brought to York Minster on Sunday, where it will burn in St Nicholas' Chapel for at least a month. Yorkshire-based yoga teachers Wendy Scott and Mona Fairholme organised the event, which saw about 30 people walk in pairs through the city carrying the fire-lit torch.

Wendy said: "The Minster is a hugely important spiritual centre, visited by hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world. It seems a natural place to have a peace flame."

The flame was the brainchild of the Life Foundation School Of Therapeutics, a yoga and meditation centre in North Wales. At its birth six years ago, flames in five continents were lit and flown across the world where they became one.

Millions of people have lit individual candles from the flame, which burns at monuments in The Hague, Australia, the USA and Great Britain.

York Minster Canon Glyn Webster said: "We're very pleased to receive this flame. We want to support all the initiatives that raise peace awareness."

Chris Barrington, director of the World Peace Flame foundation, said: "Everyone has a right to peace - it's the responsibility of everyone in the world."

Updated: 10:12 Tuesday, March 22, 2005