York's "shabby" Mansion House is to be transformed back into a place of elegance and style - thanks to a £170,000 refurbishment.

York Civic Trust is to underwrite a major scheme to clean and restore paintings, fit new carpets and redecorate the 18th Century building in St Helen's Square.

"We aim to make it a house of elegance, style and refinement, a house so splendid that those entering for the first time will literally gasp with admiration" said Trust chairman John Shannon.

And today York's outgoing Lord Mayor, Coun Mick Bradley, called for the creation of a new Mansion House Trust to safeguard its future.

Coun Bradley said he had been surprised to find some of the interior fabric "fairly neglected and a bit shabby" when he began his term of office last year.

Mr Shannon said the Civic Trust refurbishment work would follow on from an £89,000 structural repair scheme to be carried out this summer by the city council, when the house would be completely cleared of its contents.

Meanwhile, York's new Lord Mayor has been given a special temporary parlour to ensure he does not go "homeless" when the Mansion House shuts.

Councillor Derek Smallwood, who becomes Mayor tomorrow, will be able to entertain guests in an historic part of the Guildhall, used until now as the council leader's office.

The leader, Coun Rod Hills, is not being evicted, however.

The two men will share the room, which has been refurbished, with new carpets and paintings on the wall.

The parlour was linked to committee room one, otherwise known as the Inner Chamber, where, several centuries ago, a ransom for King Charles 1 was counted out on a table.

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