Protesting farmers kept up the pressure for an end to the beef ban as the Ecofin ministers finished off their weekend with a tour of one of North Yorkshire's finest stately homes.

The two tour coaches carrying the ministers and their entourages slowed down as they passed about 100 protesters outside Castle Howard.

Farmers held banners in English, French and German claiming that British beef was safe and calling for an end to its worldwide ban.The demonstration was the climax of a weekend of lively protest.

On Saturday, around 250 farmers joined crowds of noisy campaigners converging on St Helen's Square who had come to voice strong anti-European anger as ministers strolled through the city centre.

Farmers presented the European finance ministers with a leaflet, written in four European languages, calling for an end to the ban on the sale of British beef across the continent.

At a press conference following the Assembly Rooms summit, a light-hearted Chancellor Gordon Brown said the demonstration failed to ruin the welcome he received in York.

In all, around 500 campaigners - many bussed in from other regions - gathered in the city to wave banners and chant anti-European slogans.

After rallying together in the Museum Gardens, the group paraded through the city's streets behind a marching pipe band.

A second rally in St Sampson's Square witnessed speakers take to the soapbox to deliver angry tirades against the single European currency.

The group then moved onto St Helen's Square where they pressed against barriers cordoning off the ministers' short walk between The Assembly Rooms and the Mansion House.

Meanwhile, two light aircraft buzzed the city trailing banners saying "EMU spells disaster" and "No euro, save our pound".

Police received a flood of calls from York residents complaining about the noise they were making.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.