TRADERS in one of York's most famous streets say they are feeling the pinch because local people simply do not come into their shops anymore.

Views of Stonegate are seen around the world as they adorn many a postcard of the city, but at this time of year the ancient street is essentially "dead", say traders.

Jo Tambourini, manageress at the Masai Mara art and craft shop, opposite Ye Olde Starre Inne, said the store was even under threat of closure, and has had to slash prices by 10 per cent to entice people in.

She said that locals tended to snub Stonegate because it was perceived as having shops which sell unusual tourist-orientated items at expensive prices, which was not necessarily the case.

"We are trying to get new people in, but it's impossible if no one comes down Stonegate," said Jo.

"We are threatened with closure. If within three months we cannot make people aware that we are here, then we will have to close."

She added: "It's just a means to a dead end."

Masai Mara has traded in Stonegate for five years but a decline in business began to become noticeable one-and-a-half years ago and trade has gone steadily downhill ever since.

Next door to Masai Mara is gift shop Whigmaleeries, which has traded in Stonegate for seven years.

But manageress Amber Roake said that when local people do call in they usually ask "have you just opened?"

She said: "Most local people don't know we are here. Stonegate is dead. There just isn't the footflow of local people anymore.

"It's a shame because people think Stonegate is a tourist trap, and it's not."

Adam Sinclair, chairman of York Chamber of Trade, said: "It would be very damaging for regional shoppers to perceive Stonegate and other areas of historic York as no-go areas. The tourist income isn't enough to sustain the overheads of running a city centre shop at the moment.

"We're alienating the regional shopper from historic York because we're giving the impression that it's easier for them to shop out of town."

He said it was important for accessible parking to be available for people who lived in the vicinity of York to feel the city was convenient for them to shop in.

Updated: 11:08 Saturday, March 03, 2001