ARCHIVES of York's history have been put on public show longer in an effort to increase knowledge of the city's past.

City of York Council held its first evening opening of the archive service yesterday, and intends that it will become a regular feature.

Coun Alan Jones, the council's leisure spokesman, said: "The city's archive is full of treasures going back 800 years which tell the story of York through the ages.

"It is important that people can have a chance to discover this wonderful resource."

The new hours are part of the council's drive to improve public access to library services. They aim to give people who work during the day better access to information.

Archivist Rita Freeman said: "We are delighted to be able to do this. We want more people to know they can come along and look out their ancestors or the history of the house they live in."

The archives are next to York City Art Gallery in Exhibition Square.

The opening hours are: Monday to Wednesday - 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm; Thursday - 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 7.30pm; Friday - 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm.

Updated: 11:59 Friday, February 07, 2003