THEY had come from various operatic societies and choirs from across the York area - but they were all singing from the same hymn sheet.

Or to be precise, they were all singing from a specially drafted songsheet detailing a brand new version of Yorkshire's "national anthem," On Ilkla Moor Bah't at.

Gathered in front of the Mansion House in Coney Street, with tourists looking on in bemusement, the choir delivered the immortal lines: "We are the folk who live in York, whom councils ought to please. We can't afford to park at night, we can't afford to park at night. So scrap the parking fees! So scrap the parking fees! So scrap the parking fees!"

It wasn't quite the traditional rendition of Happy Birthday that council leader Steve Galloway, who turned 56 yesterday, might normally expect to hear.

The singers came from organisations including York Opera, York Settlement Community Players, York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir and York Railway Institute Band.

Leading Labour councillors joined the lobby at one point, while Liberal Democrats walked straight past. Some looked angry, while others seemed more amused as some of the angriest protesters, such as Paul Cope, bellowed at them through a loudhailer.

Paul, who shouted "I hope you can sleep at night", told the Evening Press he had worked in security in York for the past 18 months and was angry about the impact of the charges. "I have seen how they have affected businesses - they talk to me," he said. "It's ridiculous."

Updated: 10:33 Friday, July 30, 2004