The grand opening of York's designer shopping outlet descended into chaos today when a woman stripped naked in front of the city's Lord Mayor.

The Lord Mayor of York and Joe Kaemper, chief executive of McArthurGlen, at the opening of the Design Outlet at Naburn today

The streaker ran up to astonished dignitaries at the lavish opening ceremony and shouted "Shopping, shopping, shopping" and "This is sad" before she was arrested by police and escorted from the scene.

The woman was the second streaker to upset the ceremony. Minutes earlier, a naked man darted past a queue of gobsmacked shoppers waiting at the main entrance.

In all, 19 protesters were taken away by police after a series of minor scuffles at the new outlet on the former Naburn Hospital site, near Fulford.

Police with dogs and extra private security guards were drafted in to deal with the disturbances after campaigners gathered outside, shouting and throwing leaflets.

Eco-warriors have fought plans to build the £64 million McArthurGlen outlet ever since it was first announced.

They delayed the development for more then a year with a campaign of tree climbing and tunnel digging to protest at the loss of woodland on the site.

And today, the York Green Party urged people to boycott the shopping complex - where designer clothes can be bought at knock-down prices - on the grounds that it will lead to increased traffic congestion.

The Greens said they already had a petition signed by 500 people who objected to the "car-dependent" outlet.

Paul Hepworth, of the York Cyclists' Touring Club, welcomed a new cycle link that would enable shoppers to pedal to the outlet from the city centre, but warned that extra traffic would make life difficult for cyclists making local journeys in Fulford.

Adrian Wright, managing director of McArthur Glen, said there had been "a slight interruption" in what was otherwise a fabulous opening.

An ambulance was called to one of the shops at the designer shopping centre this afternoon after an elderly woman collapsed.

The Designer Room was evacuated while emergency services treated the woman.

see NEWS 'Designer Day becomes Carry On Shopping'

see NEWS 'Shops outlet hailed as 'economic boost''

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