Fire wrecks stately hall

Dozens of firefighters battled to save a stately home near York which went up in flames today. City's MP standing for Millennium watch

While most York residents settle down to enjoy their New Year's Eve parties, the city's MP Hugh Bayley will be on a special Millennium watch as the last hours of the century tick by. Housing accolade for York council

Local Government Minister Hilary Armstrong was today holding up City of York Council as one of Britain's finest local authorities. Stolen watercolour back on show in city gallery

A Turner watercolour of Rievaulx Abbey, stolen during an armed robbery, is back where it belongs at York City Art Gallery. Student fuming after car is locked in park

A cash-strapped student is fuming after her car was locked into a City of York car park during a late night shopping trip - landing her with a £7 taxi fare and a £35 fine. Crawford wows his fans

Star of stage, screen and television Michael Crawford dropped in to York at the weekend to plug his Christmas CD and autobiography. Choice way of letting tenants have their way

One of the housing services which earned the City of York Council today's beacon status was its popular Tenants' Choice scheme. You only have to visit Ikea or B&Q on a Sunday to observe the British people's obsession with their homes. Guinness greeting for chimp Nelson

Brewing giant Guinness has issued Christmas greetings to Nelson the chimpanzee following the recent Evening Press story about his love of the black stuff. School to scrap dinner money

School dinner money could be consigned to the history books of the 20th century when a new scheme is introduced at a York secondary school in January.

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