A CITY-WIDE symphony rang through York last night as musicians performed a magical feat, writes Rebecca Gilbert.

From York Minster to St Helen's Square and High Ousegate to Piccadilly crowds of people reacted with pleasure, amusement and puzzlement to the bizarre sight of brass instruments glinting from York's rooftops as fireworks burst overhead.

Outside York Minster people, wrapped up against the cold, heard the high-pitched bells of St Michael-le-Belfrey receive a rumbling reply from the Minster tower.

Further down, two brass bands fought it out playing scales in accompaniment to the battle overhead.

This was The York Millennium Symphony of Bells and Brass, involving all the working bell towers of York, members of the city's brass bands, and students from the University of York's music department.

Each musical outburst was synchronised to fit into a symphony which would sound different to each person depending on the route they took around the city to enjoy it.

The whole event, arranged in conjunction with the City of York Council, was composed for the city by Spanish composer Llorenc Barbe, .and topped off with a fireworks display set off from the Museum Gardens.

Celia Frisby, of York, said: "I think it's wonderful. A remarkable thing for the city to do.