YORK shopaholics will be delighted by plans to start direct flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to New York. Soon they could be jetting off for a weekend's plastic punishment in the Big Apple.

Theatregoers, meanwhile, may be tempted by the prospect of a night on Broadway (and not the one in Fulford). Of course it works both ways. Hopefully, the air link will tempt more New Yorkers to flash their cash in Brown's rather than Macy's, and swap the Yankee Stadium for KitKat Crescent.

Start spreading the news. They want to be a part of it, old York, old York...

Updated: 09:53 Friday, July 29, 2005